Use of a tissue blotting immunoassay to examine the distribution of pineapple closterovirus in Hawaii

Specific monoclonal antibodies made to a pineapple closterovirus (PCV) were used in a tissue blotting immunoassay (TBIA) for the detection of PCV in pineapple. More than 2,000 samples were tested in 5 days by one person using this rapid and reliable assay. A survey was conducted using this assay to test more than 20,000 Hawaiian pineapple samples for the presence of PCV. PCV was detected in symptomless pineapple plants in the field and in the USDA pineapple germ plasm collection. Studies of the association of PCV with mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) suggest that PCV may be involved in MWP.