Detection of Orthotospovirus in a suburban vegetable-producing area

Abstract

Orthotospoviruses are RNA viruses transmitted by thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). They have been considered one of the most economically important pests since the last century and today the losses caused by TCSV keep being an important factor to take into account in the different vegetable and grain producing areas in Cuba. Seventy-two samples of tomato, lettuce, carrot, cow pea, and pepper showing characteristic symptoms of infection by orthotopoviruses were collected in 2018-2020 (November to January) at the "Las Piedras" farm, Guanabacoa. The samples were analyzed by DAS-ELISA to detect TSWV, GRSV and TCSV. Twenty-six samples, corresponding to tomato and cow pea, resulted positive. These results corroborate the possibility of using serological techniques to detect orthotopoviruses in areas of intensive tomato production like “Las Piedras” farm and suggest that the cow pea crop can act as a viral host. The presence of orthotospovirus in tomato constitutes a serious risk for production of other crops of high economic impact because of the wide host range and the incidence of its transmitting vector in the producing areas of potato, tobacco, beans and other vegetables.