Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus
Return to Diseases
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) causes a number of different symptoms on a wide variety of vegetable plants; it is particularly localized to young foliage and fruit. Foliar symptoms can include dark circular lesions, ringspots, and bronzing; infected fruit show ring spots, discoloration, malformation, and/ or poor fruit set. TSWV can persist in association with ornamental plants, many weeds, and thrips in greenhouses. Thrips are the primary vector, moving TSWV from plant to plant.
Tomato spotted wilt in planting.
(Photo: William M. Brown, Bugwood.org)
Tomato spotted wilt on foliage.
(Photo: Alfredo Martinez, University of Georgia,
Tomato spotted wilt on foliage.
(Photo: Paul R. Bachi, University of Kentucky, Bugwood.org)
Tomato spotted wilt on foliage.
(Photo: Gerald Holmes, California Polytechnic State
University at San Luis Obispo, Bugwood.org)
Tomato spotted wilt on fruit.
(Photo: David Langston, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org)
Management:
- Carefully inspect plants prior to bringing them into structures to prevent introduction of disease.
- Aggressively manage weeds and other non-crop plants in and around agricultural structures.
- Monitor for thrips and manage their populations.
