Midgut infection by tomato spotted wilt virus and vector incompetence of Frankliniella tritici

The mechanism leading to vector competence of thrips species to transmit tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is not well characterized. We investigated the interaction of TSWV and the non-vector species Frankliniella tritici .A monoclonal antibody to the non-structural protein (NSs) of the TSWV was used to detect TSWV replication within the thrips by immunofluorescence microscopy and enzyme-linked immonosorbent assay (ELISA). TSWV was acquired by F. tritici, replicated and moved within the alimentary canal of F. tritici similar to a known vector of TSWV, Frankliniella occidentalis. However, virus was not found in the salivary glands of F. tritici, which is a prerequisite to virus transmission. Thus, movement to the salivary glands may determine vector incompetence of F. tritici.