Efficient serological and molecular methods for the detection of tomato spotted wilt virus

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV; species Orthotospovirus tomatomaculae, family Tospoviridae) (Kuhn et al., 2023), is a negative strand RNA-virus containing envelope structures, which makes it unique among plant viruses (de Haan et al., 1991). TSWV ranks among the most destructive plant viruses worldwide. First described in Australia in 1919, TSWV has since attained a global distribution, infecting over 1 000 plant species across more than 85 families, including key agricultural crops such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), and various ornamentals (Parrella et al., 2003; Pappu et al., 2009). Infected plants typically exhibit chlorotic or necrotic spots, wilting, stunted growth, and in severe cases, complete crop failure, resulting in considerable economic losses, particularly in Solanaceous and Asteraceous crops (Rosell et al., 1996; Latham and Jones, 1998).