Disease Note

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Infecting Begonia Hybrids in Texas. L. W. Barnes, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843. R. S. Halliwell, Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843. Plant Dis. 69:613. Accepted for publication 29 March 1985. Copyright 1985 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-69-613c.

Membrane-bound virus particles in small clusters typical of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) were observed in ultrathin sections of symptomatic leaf tissue from Rieger elatior begonias (Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch). Approximately 75% of begonia plants and 50% of gloxinia (Sinningia speciosa (Lodd.) Hiern.) plants in a commercial greenhouse had chlorotic and necrotic ring spots and leaf and flower distortions characteristic of TSWV infection, resulting in significant economic loss to the producer. Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande), a vector of TSWV, were associated with the greenhouse plants. When mechanically transmitted to indicator hosts Petunia hybrida Vilm. ‘Pink Beauty,’ Nicotiana tabacum L. ‘Samsun NN,’ and Cucumis sativus L. ‘Chicago Pickling,’ symptoms typical of TSWV developed. This is the first report of TSWV on begonia in Texas.