See text Orthotospovirus is a genus of negative-strand RNA viruses, in the family Tospoviridae of the order Bunyavirales, which infects plants.

At least ten species of thrips belonging to family Thripidae have been confirmed as vectors for the transmission of thirteen or more tospoviruses.

[5][6] Infection with these viruses results in spotting and wilting of the plant, reduced vegetative output, and eventually death.

As the infection progresses additional symptoms develop which include dark streaks on the main stem and wilting of the top portion of the plant.

Serological and molecular tests are commercially available[1] to diagnose TSWV as well as a second common tospovirus found in ornamentals, Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV).

Cytological studies of TSWV and INSV have shown that these viruses produce granular inclusions in the cytoplasm of infected plants.

Another thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis, has also been implicated in the transmission of at least three tospoviruses, but there remains some controversy over its efficiency as a vector.

[11] Immunological testing and vector-competence studies suggest that S. dorsalis may represents a non-transmitting carrier for some strains of virus.

The success of this virus has also been attributed to the acquisition of a gene in the M segment of the genome which encodes a movement protein.