Petunia thrips

A number of polyphagous species of the Thripidae family parasitize petunia, among which the Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) is the most harmful. Tobacco thrips (Thrips tabaci), Frankliniella fusca, Frankliniella schultzei, Thrips palmi, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, and Frankliniella intonsa are also found.

Damage to flowers manifests as silvery streaks, discolored spots, and deformation of petals with brown edges. On leaves, the insect feeding leaves small punctures and streaks that merge, causing tissue necrosis. A specific sign of the pest's presence is black excrement on the surface of the leaf blades.

At present, there are no commercial petunia varieties with genetically fixed resistance to thrips. All thrips species affecting this crop are highly adaptive polyphages, and no specific races or pathotypes linked exclusively to petunia have been identified.