Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides

Field survey was made in four successive plantations of some cucurbitaceous crops (sown in mid April and mid August, 2010/2011) in Giza, Egypt. Direct inspection of weekly leaf samples revealed that two thrips species Chirothrips texanus Andre and Thrips palmi Karny were detected for the first time in Egypt, in addition to Thrips tabaci Lindeman and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande). The highest number of thrips species was recorded in August plantations for T. tabaci followed by F. occidentalis followed by T. palmi when Ch. texanus recorded the lowest number. The tospovirus, tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was recorded for first time on cucurbitaceous crops in Egypt which confirmed by using DAS- ELISA, Dot-blot and Immunocapture-PCR assays. Three thrips species, T. tabaci, T. palmi and F. occidentalis were found to be vectors of tospovirus to cucumber, squash, tobacco and gomphrina. The role of thrips in tospoviruis transmission was confirmed by using dot-blot assay. The virus-vector relationship was conducted and the thrips first larval instar was the efficient stage in tospovirus acquisition. However, only the adults emerged from the first larval instar fed on infected cucumber leaves were able to transmit TSWV. The impact of TSWV and thrips infestation on cucurbitaceous yield showed significant decrease in the cucumber and squash, leaves number and fruits weight between the nili and the summer plantations in the same growing season, but not between the growing seasons

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