A study of incidence and severity on pineapple mealybug wilt- associated virus at Lembaga Perindustrian Nanas Malaysia Kawasan Muar Selatan, Johor / Muhammad Ridhwan Suhimai

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) is tropical crop and most importance crop commercial fruit in the global market after banana and citrus. Mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) is one of the diseases that commonly attack pineapple crop caused by virus transmitted by mealybug. Mealybug wilt of pineapple (MWP) disease can attack all growth stage of pineapple that can reduce production of pineapple. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the incidence and severity on pineapple mealybug wilt associated with viruses (PMWaV) at area Muar Selatan, Johor and to relate the factors that affecting the incidence and severity of pineapple mealybugs wilt (MWP) disease. A survey has been carried out at six field plots. All the data were recorded. Result indicated that from six fields that have been surveyed, Field E has the highest mean of disease incidence with 6.0% whereas severity is 28.5% followed by mean of disease incidence is field A with 4.4% whereas severity is 24.4% , field C with 3.6% the incidence whereas severity is 25.9%, field B the incidence is 2.4% whereas severity is 17.8% , field D the incidence is 2.0% whereas severity is 17.8%. The lowest mean of disease incidence is ield F with 1.2% whereas severity is 11.1%. These disease incidence and severity were affected by several factors which were the population of the mealybugs, presence of ants and environmental condition. As a conclusion, the incidence and severity of MWP disease is not in severe state at area Muar Selatan, Johor.