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 Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Cell lines that have been established for other insects offer a wide range of usages for studies of insect physiology, toxicology, and pathology. This study examined the efficiency of different insect cell culture media for suitability in establishing a thrips cell culture system. Final 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 stage, fibroblast-like cells were the dominant cell type. Monolayers of epi thelial-like cells were observed at 10-20 days. This is the first cell culture system established which provides a method for the examination of thrips cell growth and metabolism and which provides a method for the study of virus infection and replication within the thrips vector F. occidentalis. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.