Vector transmission of Pineapple mealybug wilt associated virus-2 by Dysmicoccus neobrevipes and Pseudococcus longispinus in Hawaii

• Published in: Phytopathology Vol. 99; no. 6; p. S125
• Main Authors: Subere, C V, Sether, D M, Borth, W B, Melzer, MJ, Hu, J S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-06-2009
• Subjects: Dysmicoccus neobrevipes; Pseudococcus
• ISSN: 0031-949X

Pineapple is an economically important tropical fruit crop grown for the fresh fruit and processed product markets. Yield is affected when plants are infected by pineapple mealybug wilt associated viruses (PMWaVs) which are transmitted by two pineapple mealybug species: D. brevipes (Cockerell) and D. neobrevipes (Beardsley). Although it is well established that these two species are vectors of PMWaVs, transmission parameters such as acquisition and retention have not been evaluated. It is also not known if P. longispinus is a vector of PMWaV-2 or if it is involved in the etiology of mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP). PMWaV-2 was detected in viruliferous mealybugs and infected pineapple plants using two-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays. Transmission experiments showed that D. neobrevipes achieved 100% transmission efficiency after a 3-day acquisition access period (AAP). D. neobrevipes remained viruliferous for up to 3 days after AAP when sequentially transferred to healthy plants at 24-hour intervals over a 7-day period. Maximum retention of infectivity for PMWaV-2 in viruliferous D. neobrevipes was 24 hours. P. longispinus was also shown to be a vector of PMWaV-2, but required a longer AAP (> 4 days) with lower transmission efficiency (20-50%) than D. neobrevipes. MWP symptoms developed in D. neobrevipes-infested pineapple plants but were absent in plants exposed to viruliferous P. longispinus.