IXth International Symposium on Thysanoptera and Tospoviruses, 31 August – 4 September 2009

Diseases caused by tospoviruses have become a major threat to a broad range of agricultural and horticultural crops.To date, seventeen different tospoviruses have been characterised and twelve thrips species have been identified as vectors of these viruses.Management of diseases caused by tospoviruses has become a challenge for sustainable production of vegetables in smallholder farming systems of South and Southeast Asia due to the broad host range of thrips and tospoviruses, overlapping cropping practices, indiscriminate use of insecticides resulting in vector thrips developing insecticide resistance.The Integrated Pest Management-Collaborative Research and Support Program (IPM CRSP) funded by USAID has initiated multi-disciplinary, system-wide research and technology transfer programs for a comprehensive development strategy to mitigate the impact of tospovirus diseases in smallholder agriculture in the region.