The role of ornamental plants as hosts of <i>Tomato chlorotic spot virus</i> and its vector thrips affecting tomato production

The tomato industry in South Florida (USA) is seriously affected by recently emerging Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV). Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), and common blossom schultzei (Trybom) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), are the two known vectors of TCSV Florida. In present study, presence thrips 24 flowering ornamental plant species was observed vectors, as well melon Thrips palmi Karny were abundant area; they with a range from high (83.1 per sample 10 flowers) Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. to low (3.7 Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don nursery study. subsequent greenhouse we selected seven ornamentals, among which highest abundance, planted them next tomato, determine their effects on incidence abundance tomatoes. Tomatoes Portulaca oleracea showed higher number TCSV-infected plants (4.25 plot 2017, 3.25 2018) compared tomatoes some other ornamentals them. We report through reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis Lantana camara L., H. rosa-sinensis, Mandevilla spec., Gazania linearis (Thunb.) Druce, Hemerocallis Agastache P. oleracea. Identification alternative hosts can be helpful evaluate ongoing management programs develop future local tomato-growing areas.