Sulaiman, S.F.M., Subhadrabandhu, S., & Chairidchai, P. 2000 Implications of the use of excess coir dust mulch in pineapple cultivation on the mealybug wilt disease of pineapple.. Acta Horticulturae No. 529: 221-235.

Notes: [Proceedings of the Third International Pineapple Symposium, Pattaya, Thailand, 17-20 November 1998.] Mealybug wilt disease of pineapple is a major problem in pineapple production. The pink pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes, causes the wilt disease. Ants attending the mealybug colonies play a major role in the build-up of the mealybug colony and thereby the disease. Pineapple is planted in rows, leaving 1.5 to 2 m avenues between rows. The weeds in these avenues are managed in several ways. In this experiment, pineapple was planted in three blocks, 15 to 22 m apart from each other and the impact of three common weed management practices: (T1) clean weeding; (T2) slash weeding; and (T3) mulching with excess coir dust, on the ant/mealybug/spider population and fruit yield was studied in these 3 blocks. As a first step towards the management of the wilt disease, it is important to minimize ant numbers and remove weeds between rows and limit use of coir dust mulch to base of plants along rows.