Files
Abstract
Spotted wilt disease, caused by the thrips-vectored Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), is an important disease affecting peanuts in the southeastern United States. Peanut Rx is a risk index that allows growers to determine and avoid combinations of production practices that are conducive severe spotted wilt epidemics. However, the intensity of spotted wilt disease varies among fields having the same risk category depending on location and year as documented in this study. To account for the variability in spotted wilt intensity, a thrips risk factor was created based on location- and year-specific predictions of peak thrips dispersal from the Thrips Infestation Predictor Tool for cotton. A modified Peanut Rx was developed through the integration of the thrips risk factor into the risk index which provided a better risk assessment than Peanut Rx. With it, peanut growers can directly account for the thrips vector in assessing their risk of spotted wilt in order to determine the suitable production practices that would help them avoid severe epidemics and yield losses.