Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the presence of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) in vegetable growing areas, during growing seasons of 2006 and 2007 in the West Mediterranean Region of  Turkey. Survey studies were conducted in vegetable areas and tomato, pepper, potato, lettuce, squash and cucumber leaves, showing typical TSWV symptoms, were collected. Totally 337 samples from 12 locations were collected and tested by DAS-ELISA using TSWV spesific polyclonal antibody. According to the results of ELISA tests, 157 samples were found to be infected by TSWV. Incidence of TSWV in samples was 46.58%. Among the samples, TSWV infection rates of pepper, lettuce, tomatoes and squash were 67.16, 66.66, 46.94 and 16.66%, respectively. During the two years it was observed  that thrips were predominantly present in vegetable growing areas and they also were collected from the locations. Thrips were identified as Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande. Inoculation with extracts from TSWV-positive plants produced systemic mosaic and leaf deformation on Catharanthus roseus, severe stunting and death on Pelargonium zonale, vein yellowing, mosaic, necrotic local lesions and leaf deformation on Nicotiana glutinosa and  Nicotiana tabacum White Burley. As a result, presence of TSWV were found on vegetable growing areas in the West Mediterranean Region of Turkey.

Key words: Vegetable, tomato spotted wilt virus, DAS-ELISA.