¡°There¡¯s no place like home¡± ¨C Tospoviruses in Kansas
Campbell LR1, Webb C 2, Westervelt L3
1Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS 66506.
2USDA, APHIS, PPQ, Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS 66506.
3Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS 66506.
Correspondence: lcambel@ksu.edu
Kansas State University has an active Horticultural Therapy program and teaching programs in Plant Pathology, Horticulture, Forestry and Master Gardener programs. These courses all contain a hands-on training component, which takes place in the Throckmorton Greenhouse Complex. This results in increased human traffic and plant movement between the greenhouses. These activities increase the chance for thrips and their vectoring of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) and Impatient Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV). On-going long term experiments, some involving tomatoes and other virus-susceptible plants, are also located in the complex. In addition, the K-State Gardens, located adjacent to the greenhouse complex, are a major tourist attraction and displays many tospovirus-susceptible plant species. Early in 2004, bedding plants in the Throckmorton Greenhouse Complex showed symptoms indicative of tospovirus infections. Initial testing using Immuno Strips (Agdia Corp.) verified TSWV/INSV in 4 of 22 plants. Funding was acquired with the purpose of developing and implementing policy to control tospovirus in the K-State Horticulture, Forestry & Recreation Resources (HFRR) greenhouses. Totally, 677 plants were sampled from 16 greenhouses, with 111 (16.39%) testing positive. These included 47 species from 29 families, with 23 species not found on other host lists. From this work, greenhouse management policies have been instituted. Weekly monitoring with sticky cards and elimination of infected plant material will control future tospovirus outbreaks.
