Nickel, O., Chagas, C.M., & Vasconcelos, A.P.A. 2000 [Association of pineapple mealybug wilt with closterovirus-like particles and dsRNA in Bahia, Brazil.]. Fitopatologia Brasileira 25(2): 200-202.

Notes: Leaf and root extracts of pineapple Ananas comosus 'Smooth Cayenne' with and without symptoms of pineapple mealybug wilt (PMW) examined under the electron microscope contained closterovirus-like particles ranging in size from 1,000 to 1,500 X 13 nm, with a modal length of 1,200 nm. A few particles of approximately 2,250 nm in length were also observed. The mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes was found colonizing pineapple. dsRNA in the range of 0.4 to 17.4 Kb was found in leaves of PMW-diseased pineapple 'Smooth Cayenne', wild bromelias (Pseudananas sagenarius and A. bracteatus) and a diseased hybrid of A. comosus ('Perolera' X 'Smooth Cayenne') submitted to analysis by PAGE. These molecules were not found in seedlings. In SDS-PAGE of virus preparations only one major protein was detected, probably the coat protein, with an approximately Mr of 25 kDa. The nature of the relationship between the closterovirus-like particles and PMW is presently under study.