Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV)

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus [Credit: William M. Brown Jr., Bugwood.org]

Tomato showing tomato spotted wilt virus [Credit: Downtowngal]

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus [Credit: William M. Brown Jr., Bugwood.org]

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus on foliage [Credit: Edward Sikora, Auburn University, Bugwood.org]

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus on foliage [Credit: Florida Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bugwood.org]

Host Plants:

On Crops: Tomatoes

Where Found:

Mostly in warm temperate climates, where Tomato Spotted Wilt is transmitted by thrips.

Description:

New growth is small, stunted, and growing tips show many small brown spots. The damaged young leaves quickly turn brown and wilt, and may develop purplish veins. If the infection occurs late in the season after plants are holding fruits, the fruits ripen unevenly with many circular halos with a hard texture.

Damage:

Tomato Spotted Wilt strikes much more suddenly and forcefully than other plant viruses. Infected plants rarely recover.

Preventing Problems:

Choose resistant varieties, which are widely available. Measures that reduce thrips populations, such as using reflective film mulch, will cut the risk of Tomato Spotted Wilt virus. Several weeds serve as off-season hosts for this virus, and some flowers including dahlias can carry over the virus from one season to the next.

Managing Outbreaks:

Pull up and compost infected plants to keep the virus from increasing among local wild plant populations. If it is still early in the season, plants can be replaced with resistant varieties.

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