Identification of Taeniothrips eucharii (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) as a Vector of Hippeastrum chlorotic ringspot virus in Southern China

Abstract

Hippeastrum chlorotic ringspot virus (HCRV) is a putative new member of the genus Tospovirus, which was first identified infecting Hymenocallis littoralis in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. Taeniothrips eucharii, the dominant thrips species found on H. littoralis, was tested for its efficiency as a vector of the virus. We used Western blot analysis of adult thrips to detect the N protein. Transmission experiments demonstrated an average acquisition efficiency of 43.7 ± 3.4% (AAP = 24 h) for the first larval stage and a transmission efficiency of 19.1 ± 2.4% (IAP = 24 h) for adult thrips. This study reports T. eucharii as a new genus and species of thrips transmitting a Tospovirus, HCRV.