TRANSMISSION OF PINEAPPLE MEALYBUG WILT-ASSOCIATED VIRUS BY 2 SPECIESOF MEALYBUG (DYSMICOCCUS SPP.)

Closterovirus-like particles associated with mealybug wilt of pineappl e were acquired and transmitted by the pink pineapple mealybug, Dysmic occus brevipes, and the gray pineapple mealybug, D. neobrevipes. Mealy bugs acquired pineapple mealybug wilt-associated virus (PMWaV) from in fected pineapple plants or detached leaves. The virus was detected in plants by tissue blot immunoassay and confirmed by immunosorbent elect ron microscopy. Plants exposed to mealybugs reared on PMWaV-free pinea pple tissue remained uninfected. The presence of ants was correlated w ith an increased rate of virus spread when caged with D. brevipes. All stages of D, neobrevipes acquired PMWaV, although vector efficiency d ecreased significantly in older adult females. The probability of a si ngle third-instar immature transmitting the virus was 0.04. Both speci es of mealybug acquired and transmitted PMWaV from infected pineapple material that had been clonally propagated for decades, and both speci es acquired PMWaV from sources previously infected with the virus by t he other mealybug species.