DETECTION OF PINEAPPLE CLOSTEROVIRUS IN PINEAPPLE PLANTS AND MEALYBUGS USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced to the pineapple closterovi rus (PCV) in Hawaii, These antibodies were shown to be specific for PC V by decoration of the virus particles in immunosorbent electron micro scopy (ISEM) and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), S everal methods of ELISA were compared. An indirect DAS ELISA using a p olyclonal antibody to trap virus particles followed by reaction with m onoclonal antibody was shown to be the method of choice for detecting PCV in pineapple plants. Pineapple root tissue was found to be most su itable for detecting PCV in crude samples by indirect ELISA. PCV was d etected in symptomatic and asymptomatic pineapple plants collected fro m Oahu and Maui, and pineapple collections in the USDA/ARS National Cl onal Germplasm Repository, but was not detected from pineapple plants grown from seed. At least two serotypes of PCV were detected, In addit ion, PCV was detected from mealybugs collected from willed pineapple p lants, but not from mealybugs of the same species collected from a col ony reared on squash. The role of PCV in mealybug wilt of pineapple is being investigated.