ABSTRACT
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was described by Samuel and co-workers, and its properties were reviewed by Best, Ie, Francki and Hatta, Francki and co-workers, and Dougherty and Hiebert. The virus is transmitted by thrips in a persistent manner. A sequence for TSWV particle development has been proposed by Milne. Inclusions induced by TSWV have been the subject of a considerable number of thin-section investigations. The virus induces three types of cytoplasmic inclusions: particle aggregates within cisternae of the ER, electron-opaque material, and bundles of fibrils of unknown composition. TSWV has been reported in natural infections of 166 species in 109 genera of 40 families, including 19 species in 12 genera of the Leguminosae. The membranes of TSWV particles have also been interpreted to be derived from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Serological relationships between mild, necrotic, and ring spot strains of the virus have been reported.
