Management of tomato spotted wilt tospovirus: effect of plant age
Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV - EPPO A2 quarantine pest) is common in north-eastern Spain and is a limiting factor to tomato production in important growing regions. Tomato plants, naturally infected by TSWV which expressed symptoms at 24, 38, 45, 60, 67 and 74 days after transplanting were monitored for production in an experimental plot, at Cabrils near Barcelona (ES). Results showed that plants which had developed symptoms at 24, 38 or 45 days after transplanting yielded significantly less and produced fewer and smaller tomatoes than those that had developed symptoms later, at 60, 67 and 74 days after transplanting. However, the quality of the fruit was drastically decreased by TSWV, irrespective of plant age at time of symptom expression. The authors felt that management strategies which try to delay infection of TSWV in tomato crops will not be effective, at least in the period considered (July to September). Other management methods suggested by other studies, e.g. application of horticultural oils of film-forming products, used of thrips-repellent mulches, or floating row covers should be investigated.
Sources
Moriones, E.; Aramburu, J.; Riudavets, J.; Arnó, J.; Laviña, A. (1998) Effect of plant age at time of infection by tomato spotted wilt tospovirus on the yield of field-grown tomato.
European Journal of Plant Pathology, 104(3), 295-300.