Tospoviruses

What Is It? | Facts in Depth | For the Professional Diagnostician


Ashlina Chin & Sally A. Miller

Tospovirus is one of the most important genera of viruses, causing economic damage to more than 800 susceptible plant species.  Tospoviruses have a very wide host range and can be transmitted by ten different thrips species.  Using disease-free and disease-resistant tomato transplants is the best way to prevent the spread of tospoviruses.

Available Fact Sheets (pdf)

English: Tomato Spotted Wilt Fact Sheet

Scientific Names

Genus: Tospoviruses
Tomato spotted wilt virus
Tomato chlorotic spot virus

Important High Tunnel Host Crops

  • Tomato
  • Pepper
  • Lettuce


Pictures of symptoms caused by Tomato chlorotic virus (top left; top right) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (bottom left; bottom right).