Survey by ELISA of Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) Vectored Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Distribution in Foliage and Flowers of Field-Infected Peanut1

Abstract The foliage of individual field-infected peanut plants (Arachis hypogaea L.) was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). TSWV was detected commonly in terminals (folded quadrifoliates) and flowers, the vector's feeding and breeding niches. Reconstructions of the assayed plants demonstrated that the virus concentration varied from plant to plant and symptoms were significantly correlated to virus concentration in individual leaves and terminals. The virus was not distributed uniformly throughout individual plants but was concentrated in young, developing terminal tissue. The presence of symptoms was indicative of detectable virus 95% of the time.