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POSTERS: Population Biology Genetics I

P-549 - Monitoring diversity of tomato spotted wilt virus in major cultivated hosts in Georgia, United States.

Monday, August 4, 2025
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM HST
Location: Exhibit Hall 3
Abstract Text: Tomato spotted wilt disease (TSWD) caused by Orthotospovirus tomatomaculae (tomato spotted wilt virus; TSWV), is a potent threat to horticultural and row crop production. Thus, we aimed to biologically and molecularly characterized TSWV isolates mainly from peanut (Arachis hypogaea), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) crops from southeast Georgia. TSWD was monitored in peanut (1990 to 2024) and tobacco (2000 to 2024) in field conditions. Virulence based on disease severity of isolates on tobacco plants were studied in controlled conditions. As a result, maximum severity was displayed by TSWV peanut isolate. Further, decrease in virulence with serial inoculations depended on the isolates. For molecular characterization of isolates, a total of 284 sequences obtained in this study were combined with 242 full-length N, NSm, and NSs gene sequences from online database. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences revealed spatial and temporal influence on TSWV emergence. The neutrality tests and rate of substitution mutations suggested an overall non-neutral evolution with substantial purifying selection. High gene flow was estimated between TSWV population isolated from selected cultivated host crops. In addition, phylogenies-based Bayesian analysis predicted the time to the most common recent ancestor for current TSWV population was ~25 years ago, correlated with highest yield loss in peanut crop. In conclusion, monitoring the diversity of TSWV isolates will help to conduct surveillance on TSWV to maintain the sustainability of management strategies.