FORMULATION OF AN INSECT MEDIUM FOR THRIPS MONOLAYER CELL-CULTURES (THYSANOPTERA, THRIPIDAE, FRANKLINIELLA-OCCIDENTALIS)

A thrips tissue culture system was developed hom embryonic eggs from F rankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Cell l ines that have been established for other insects offer a wide range o f usages for studies of insect physiology, toxicology, and pathology. This study examined the efficiency of different insect cell culture me dia for suitability in establishing a thrips cell culture system. Fina l development of a medium for thrips cell culture allowed cells to be cultured up to 7 months. Within 1-2 days after being explanted, tissue fragments and individual cells attached to the substrate; at this sta ge, fibroblast-like cells were the dominant cell type. Monolayers of e pi thelial-like cells were observed at 10-20 days. This is the first c ell culture system established which provides a method for the examina tion of thrips cell growth and metabolism and which provides a method for the study of virus infection and replication within the thrips vec tor F. occidentalis. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.