Attached
Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.)Js one o f the most important tropical fruits. At present the
crop is widely grown throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions in the world
including Sri Lanka. Pineapple is infected with several viruses among that Pineapple
Mealy bug Wilt Associated Virus-1 (PMWaV-1) and Pineapple Mealy bug Wilt
Associated Virus-2 (PMWaV-2) are very common in Sri Lanka. PMWaVs belong to the
genus Ampelovirus o f the family Closteroviridae. The presence of these two viruses can
be detected by using molecular methods. The duplex PCR assay proved to be as sensitive
and specific as single-target assays and also detected the mixed infections with certainty.
The identification o f both viruses in a single reaction offers a reduction in both cost and
laboratory diagnostic time. PMWaV-1 & PMWaV2 suspected positive samples were
collected from pineapple variety Mauritious. RNA was extracted using silica fractionated
method. Primer 225 & 226 for PMWaV-1 and Primer 223 & 224 for PMWaV-2 were
used to amplify cDNA and PCR. Hie size o f the amplified product was respectively
589bp (base pairs) and 609bp in gel electrophoresis. Very close bands were observed and
it was difficult to detect PMWaV-1 and PMWaV-2 bands separately. Sequencing data
was use to designed new primer for PMWaVl. Duplex PCR was done for PMWaV-1 and
PMWaV-2. PCR was done using newly designed primer and the size o f the amplified
product was around700bp. In duplex PCR, products were not amplified because o f the
formation o f primer dimers (hetero dimers) between PMWaV-1 primers and PMWaV-2
primers. New primer was designed again and amplification size o f the product was 234bp
and duplex was done using two primer pairs including new primer. Separate bands were
observed and it was easy method to identifying the both two viruses in a single reaction.
