USE OF A TISSUE BLOTTING IMMUNOASSAY TO EXAMINE THE DISTRIBUTION OF PINEAPPLE CLOSTEROVIRUS IN HAWAII

Specific monoclonal antibodies made to a pineapple closterovirus (PCV) were used in a tissue blotting immunoassay (TBIA) for the detection o f PCV in pineapple. More than 2,000 samples were tested in 5 days by o ne person using this rapid and reliable assay. A survey was conducted using this assay to test more than 20,000 Hawaiian pineapple samples f or the presence of PCV. PCV was detected in symptomless pineapple plan ts in the field and in the USDA pineapple germ plasm collection. Studi es of the association of PCV with mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) sug gest that PCV may be involved in MWP.