The Effect of in-furrow Applications of Acibenzolar-S-Methyl on Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and Thrips in Peanut

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (family: Bunyaviridae) is a continuing threat to several crops in the Southeastern U.S. Acibenzolar-S-methyl is a plant immune-response activator which has been shown to suppress TSWV in tobacco. The following treatments were evaluated for TSWV and thrips suppression: untreated, phorate in-furrow, acibenzolar-S-methyl applied in-furrow, acibenzolar-S-methyl in-furrow + foliar, and acibenzolar-S-methyl in-furrow + phorate in-furrow. Although in-furrow applications of acibenzolar-S-methyl alone and in combination with phorate led to numerical reductions of TSWV during each year of the study, differences were significant only during 1997. Foliar applications of acibenzolar-S-methyl did not provide enough disease suppression during 1997 to warrant additional sprays. However, Acibenzolar-S-methyl also may reduce populations of thrips larvae and suppresses feeding damageby thrips up to 30 d after planting. Acibenzolar-S-methyl applied in-furrow was comparable with in-furrow applications of phorate in its effect on TSWV of peanut; however, acibenzolar-S-methyl does not provide enough benefit alone to justify its use in peanut management at this time.