Tomato Spotted Wilt virus is a devastating disease because it has such a large host range and has an impact worldwide. The virus infects 174 known plant species and has cost the green industry greatly.
The virus was first found in 1919 in Australia and it is not a seed born disease. It is thought that the disease was spread through cuttings that were shipped from one country to the next. This virus is very hard to control because it has 6 different strains and is very resistant to pesticides. It is an RNA virus that is membrane bound and has spherical particles.
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