Thrips monitoring and expanding the host range of thrips-transmitted Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) affecting lettuce in the Salinas Valley of California

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Presenting Author(s)

Daniel K. Hasegawa

USDA
Salinas, California

Co-Author(s)

Alejandro Del-Pozo

Virginia Tech
Virginia Beach, Virginia
LH

Laura J. Hladky

USDA-ARS, Crop Improvement and Protection Research Unit
Salinas, California
RS

Richard Smith

University of California Cooperative Extension, Monterey County
Salinas, California
EM

Elizabeth Mosqueda

California State University of Monterey Bay
Marina, California

Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) is the primary vector for Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV), which has caused widespread damage to lettuce production in the Salinas Valley in recent years. Only limited strategies exist for thrips management and there are no direct methods for managing INSV. Furthermore, the large host range of plant species that can potentially support thrips populations and INSV creates additional management challenges, such that secondary hosts (i.e. non-lettuce) may serve as reservoirs for INSV inoculum, where thrips can potentially acquire the virus and subsequently transmit to neighboring lettuce fields. In this study, we, 1) Established a weekly monitoring program to document thrips populations in the Salinas Valley and 2) Conducted quarterly sampling periods in four geographically distinct regions in the Salinas Valley to identify plant hosts that may serve as reservoirs for INSV during the lettuce and non-lettuce growing seasons. The data provide valuable information that can lead to improved cultural strategies to improve the management of thrips and INSV in lettuce.