EFFECT OF NEW PEANUT CULTIVAR GEORGIA BROWNE ON EPIDEMICS OF SPOTTED WILT

Epidemics of spotted wilt, caused by tomato spotted wilt tospovirus, w ere monitored in plantings of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) cultivars Geor gia Browne, Southern Runner, and Florunner in five tests during 1990-1 993 at Attapulgus, Georgia, and in plantings of the three cultivars pl us Marc I and AT-127 in three tests in Colquitt County, Georgia, in 19 93. Final incidence of spotted wilt and area under the disease progres s curve values for Georgia Browne were similar to those for Southern R unner but lower than those for Florunner, Mare I, and AT-127. Pod yiel ds for Georgia Browne were higher than those for Florunner in all test s at both locations and higher than those for the four other cultivars in Colquitt County in 1993. Pod yields were similar for Georgia Brown e and Southern Runner in five tests in Attapulgus. Numbers of tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca), western flower thrips (F. occidentalis), or larvae of undifferentiated Frankliniella spp, that colonized the c ultivars were similar in most cases. Differences among the cultivars i n incidence of spotted wilt could not be attributed to differences in thrips populations.