Thrips species and occurrence at different growth stages of flue-cured tobacco

In order to clarify thrips species and occurrence at different growth stages of flue-cured tobacco, thrips species on leaves at seedling and field growth stages and flowers at field growth stages were investigated in Kunming. Thrips damage rules at different growth stages were also studied. The results showed that there were seven thrips species causing damages to flue-cured tobacco in Kunming, belonging to two genera of a single family. The dominant species was Frankliniella occidentalis at the entire growth stages of flue-cured tobacco, accounted for 57.05% of the total thrip number. At seedling stage, with the increase of flue-cured tobacco plants injured by thrips, the proportion and damage degree by tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) clearly increased, and presenting a significant positive correlation. However, there was no correlation at field growth stages. Thrips occurred most seriously at seedling and flowering stages of flue-cured tobacco. For topped flue-cured tobacco, therefore seedling stage was the critical time for thrips control.