Effect of Heat Treatment on a Closteroviruslike Particle Associated with Mealybug Wilt of Pineapple. Diane E. Ullman, Department of Entomology, University of Hawaii, 3050 Maile Way, Room 310, Honolulu 96822. Thomas L. German, Carl E. McIntosh, and David D. F. Williams. Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison 53706; Department of Entomology, University of Hawaii, 3050 Maile Way, Room 310, Honolulu 96822; and Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Ltd., 870 Haliimaile Hwy., Haliimaile 96768. Plant Dis. 75:859-861. Accepted for publication 27 February 1991. Copyright 1991 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-75-0859.

Pineapple crowns (Ananas comosus ‘Smooth Cayenne’) known to be infected with a closteroviruslike particle associated with mealybug wilt of pineapple were heat-treated in water at 40, 50, and 60 C for 30, 60, and 120 min at each temperature. Plant survival was 80–100% at 40 and 50 C, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) demonstrated that 60–100% of these surviving plants were rendered free of closteroviruslike particles. Heat treatment at 60 C increased plant mortality and did not improve the percentage of plants rendered free of virus. Plant survival decreased to 70, 20, and 0% with treatments of 60 C for 30, 60, and 120 min, respectively. Plants placed in the field and greenhouse and maintained free of mealybugs were shown, with ELISA and subsampling for virus purification, to remain free of closteroviruslike particles through forcing for fruit production and harvest. In addition, these plants produced fruit, crowns, and ratoon growth free of closteroviruslike particles.

Keyword(s): serology.