Plant Viruses Online   

Descriptions and Lists from the VIDE Database

Pineapple wilt-associated (?) closterovirus

Index

• Nomenclature
• Host range, transmission and symptoms
• Physical and biochemical properties
• Taxonomy and relationships
• Comments and References

Data collated by A.A. Brunt and U.B. Gunasinghe, 1988. Updated 1991.

Nomenclature

Synonyms

pineapple mealybug wilt-associated (?) closterovirus (Gunasinghe et al., 1989; Ullman et al., 1989).

Acronym

PMWaV

ICTV decimal code

17.0.1.T.2.02

Host range and symptoms

Natural host range and symptoms

Symptoms persist, vary seasonally, and disappear soon after infection.
• Ananas comosus - yellowing and flaccidity of young leaves, necrosis of leaf tips; plants wilt and may die.

Transmission

Transmitted by a vector; an insect; Pseudococcus brevipes; Pseudococcidae. Transmitted in a semi-persistent manner (possibly). Virus not transmitted by mechanical inoculation.

Ecology and control

Studies reported by Gunasinghe and German (1986; 1988).

Geographical distribution

Spreads in the USA (Hawaii).

Experimental host range

Few (<3) families susceptible.

Diagnostically susceptible host species and symptoms

• Ananas comosus - young leaves become yellow and flacid with brown and necrotic tips. Plants wilt.

Maintenance and propagation hosts

Ananas comosus.

Assay hosts (Local lesions or Whole plants)

Ananas comosus (W).

Susceptible host species

• Ananas comosus (cv. Smooth Cayenne)

Families containing susceptible hosts

• Bromeliaceae (1/1)

Physical and biochemical properties

Properties of particles in sap

Leaf sap contains few virions.

Purification method

Gunasinghe and German (1977). Extract tissue in 0.5M Tris, followed by PEG precipitation and differential centrifugation.

Particle morphology

Virions filamentous; not enveloped; usually flexuous; with a clear modal length; of 1200-1500 nm; 12 nm wide. Axial canal obscure.

Physical properties

One sedimenting component in purified preparations. Density 1.2 g cm^-3 in caesium sulphate.

Biochemical properties

Genome consists of RNA; single-stranded; linear. Total genome size 7.1 kb. Genome unipartite; largest (or only) genome part 7.1 kb.

Features of proteins

Virion protein(s) one; M_r 23000.

Cytopathology

Virions found in leaves and phloem.

Taxonomy and relationships

Possible Closterovirus

Best tests for diagnosis

Detection of dsRNA can be used for diagnosis (Gunasinghe and German, 1986; 1988).

Comments and References

General comments

The virus can be eliminated from planting stock by hot water treatment of "crowns" for up to 120 minutes at 50ºC.

References

• Carter, W.C. (1933). Phytopathology 23: 207.
• Gunasinghe, U.B. and German, T. (1986). Phytopathology 76: 1073.
• Gunasinghe, U.B. and German, T. (1987). Phytopathology 77: 1776.
• Gunasinghe, U.B. and German, T. (1988). Phytopathology 78: 1584.
• Gunasinghe, U.B. and German, T.L. (1989). Phytopathology 79: 1337.
• Ullman, D.E., German, T.L., Gunasinghe, U.B. and Ebesu, R.H. (1989). Phytopathology 79: 1341.
• Ullman, D.E., German, T.L., McIntosh, C.E. and Williams, D.D.F. (1991). Plant Dis. 75: 859.

Cite this publication as: Brunt, A.A., Crabtree, K., Dallwitz, M.J., Gibbs, A.J., Watson, L. and Zurcher, E.J. (eds.) (1996 onwards). `Plant Viruses Online: Descriptions and Lists from the VIDE Database. Version: 20^th August 1996.' URL http://biology.anu.edu.au/Groups/MES/vide/

Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993) should also be cited.