Impatiens necrotic spot virus

Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) is a plant pathogenic virus of the family Bunyaviridae. It was originally believed to be another strain of Tomato spotted wilt virus but genetic invesitgations reveleaed them to be separate viruses. It has a tripartate genome and is largely spread by the insect vector of the western flower thrip. The virus infects more than 300 species of plant including important horticultural and agricultural species such as fuchsia and tomato. As the name implies, the main symptom on plants are necrotic spots that appear on the leaves. Viral infection can often result in the death of the plant. The disease is mainly controlled by the elimination of the western flower thrip vector and by destroying any infected plant material.