[CH] TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS, CROPS - USA (GEORGIA)
Bob Batson (rcb@kc.rr.com)
Tue, 20 Jun 2000 19:59:13 -0500
TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS, CROPS - USA (GEORGIA)
May 23 2000
proMED
[see also:
1996
International Meeting on Tospoviruses (summary): 7... 961209133327]
Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 04:49:08 PDT
From: M. Cosgriff <mcosgriff@hotmail.com>
Source: Associated Press, 23 May 2000 [edited]
The plant pathologist is a front-line soldier in a massive campaign to stop
an incurable disease that attacks more than 500 plant species, including
some of Georgia's major crops: tobacco, peanuts and vegetables. The disease
is tomato spotted wilt virus, spread by tiny flying insects known as thrips.
They transmit the virus when they feed on leaves of these crops. "This is
the No. 1 field problem facing Georgia tobacco growers," said Bertrand, a
specialist with the university of Georgia Extension Service. "Basically,
the major limiting factor for production is tomato spotted wilt." Annual
losses to peanuts, tobacco, vegetables and other Georgia crops have ranged
as high as $100 million.
The University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, hoping to reduce the enormous losses, has made spotted wilt a top
research priority. It has formed "SWEAT" - Spotted Wilt Eradication Action
Team - to combat the disease in Georgia crops.
[Byline: Elliott Minor]
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[According to Albert Culbreath, Extension Specialist at the Coastal Plain
Experiment Station, Tifton, peanut, PEPPER and tomato crops have suffered
tremendously from infection with tomato spotted wilt virus. Loss of
potential yield in tomato was estimated to be $7 800 000, assuming an
average 30% infection rate. Losses in pepper ($487 500) are less because
this crop is not attractive to the thrips vector, especially if it is grown
using a black plastic mulch. Spotted wilt-infected peanut plants can be
found in practically every field in Georgia. Losses attributed to spotted
wilt in peanut increased dramatically from 1986 to 97, when losses were $40
million. As the result of rapid and extensive adoption of principle
management techniques, estimated losses in 1999 were $15-$18 million.
Control of thrips by insecticides has not been effective for control of the
disease. Research in Georgia indicates that the use of resistant cultivars,
increased plant populations, optimum planting dates, certain insecticides,
use of twin-row patterns, and reduced tillage practices can have significant
effects on spotted wilt epidemics. Combinations of several of these
practices are more effective than a single treatment.
Farmers have enthusiastically adopted recommendations of the TSWV Risk
Assessment Index developed by the University of Georgia Peanut Reseat and
Extension Team for more effective disease management. - Mod.DH]
......................................dh/es
--
Bob Batson L 39 12 14 N 94 33 16 W
rcb@kc.rr.com Kansas City
TCS - Mystic Fire Priest USDA Zone 5
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Under the most controlled conditions, the experimental apparatus
will do exactly as it pleases.