Transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus by <i>Frankliniella occidentalism</i> median acquisition and inoculation access period

Abstract

Summary. To quantify the transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) by Frankliniella occidentalis , the median acquisition access period (AAP 50 ) and median inoculation access period (IAP 50 ) were determined. These parameters were established using transmission rates obtained after AAPs and in IAPs which both ranged from 5 to 2560 min. An AAP 50 of 106 min was found when larvae acquired virus from TSWV‐infected Impatiens plants. IAP 50 s of 58 or 137 min, respectively, were calculated when petunia or Datura stramonium leaf disks were used to test the inoculation efficiency of viruliferous thrips. The virus could successfully be acquired or inoculated in periods of 5 min. Transmission reached an optimum after an AAP of 21.3 h (AAP opt ) and in an IAP of 42.7 h (IAP opt ). These results show that TSWV can be acquired and transmitted efficiently by F. occidentalis in short feeding periods.