Occurrence and molecular identification of western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), in Serbia

• Published in: International Symposium: Current Trends in Plant Protection - Proceedings pp. 520 - 525
• Main Authors: Jović, J. (Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade (Serbia)), Mitrović, M. (Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade (Serbia)), Cvrković, T. (Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade (Serbia)), Krstić, O. (Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade (Serbia)), Toševski, I. (Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade (Serbia))
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade (Serbia) 2012
• Subjects: DNA barcoding; Frankliniella occidentalis; greenhouse vegetables; Impatient necrotic spot virus – INSV; occurrence; Tomato spotted wilt virus - TSWV

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), is one of the most destructive insect pests of greenhouse-grown crops. It causes direct damage to the plant by feeding on foliage and flowers and indirect damage by vectoring the tospoviruses. During 2010 and 2011 a survey was conducted in order to determine presence of F. occidentalis in greenhouse-grown crops in Serbia. Survey included inspection of pepper, tomato, onion, leek and cucmber crops. Thrips identification was performed by amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (COI) barcode region. The obtained COI gene sequences were subjected to comparison with the publicly available sequence data in the NCBI database. Presence of four thrips species was molecularly identified: Thrips tabaci, Haplothrips aculeatus, Frankliniella occidentalis and F. intonsa. F. occidentalis was identified on pepper at two locations in Serbia: Lukicevo in Central Banat district and Vojka in the Srem district. Confirmation of the presence and pest status of F. occidentalis in Serbia is of economic importance representing a significant finding for the management and control of tospoviruses in greenhouses-grown vegetables and ornamental crops.