Pineapple ampelovirus

Pineapple ampelovirus (Ampelovirus duananas) is a viral plant disease caused by a virus belonging to the Ampelovirus genus, within the Closteroviridae family. It is a significant concern for tropical fruit growers as it interferes with the metabolic processes of the host plant, ultimately hindering its development and yield potential.

The primary host for this pathogen is the cultivated pineapple (Ananas comosus). The virus is known to be systemic, meaning it spreads throughout the plant's vascular tissues, making it difficult to detect in the early stages without laboratory molecular testing.

The disease is characterized by symptoms such as leaf chlorosis, yellowing, and stunted plant growth. In severe infections, plants exhibit significant deformation of leaves, reduced fruit size, and general physiological weakness, which increases susceptibility to secondary pathogens and environmental stressors.

The virus is primarily transmitted by mealybugs, which act as biological vectors. These insects acquire the virus while feeding on infected sap and transmit it to healthy plants. Additionally, the virus can be spread through vegetative propagation using infected suckers or slips, which are commonly used as planting material.

Effective management requires a multi-faceted approach:

• rigorous exclusion practices to ensure planting material is virus-free
• intensive mealybug control programs using systemic insecticides
• prompt roguing of symptomatic plants to limit virus spread
• monitoring programs in high-risk areas