Oasis orchards initially withstanding infection from Psa are all now showing signs of the bacterial disease which is killing kiwifruit vines in the Bay of Plenty.

Kiwifruit Vine Health general manager John Burke says by applying copper sprays, kiwifruit growers are lowering the incolum levels throughout the district, preventing the spread of Psa.

Kiwifruit Vine Health general manager John Burke says several orchards, next-door to where Psa was first discovered, were initially fending off the infection.
'We had a number of orchards that are sitting right in the middle of the priority zone that have been resisting infection,” says John.
'All of them now have succumbed to some extent.”

John says they still only have minor infections, which is largely due to the orchards' spraying protocols.

'These guys are really focused on their spraying regime. They've done really well – they're a bit of a shinning light.
'We're calling them the oasis orchards.
'Whilst they've still got minor infections it will be interesting to track how that infection progresses while they are still adhering to quite a vigorous spraying regime.”
The spraying regime has included using biological sprays such as Serenade Max and now, moving into winter, copper sprays.

KVH has extended its spray subsidy to the entire Te Puke area to encourage growers to prevent further infection during winter.

'We had a spray subsidy around the priority zone, which we've extended to all of Te Puke.

'We think it's that important that growers try and lower their inoculant levels over the winter period so we've extend that subsidy to all growers in Te Puke. We really want 100 per cent uptake on that.”
John says it is a real opportunity for growers to lower the risk of their orchards being infected during the winter period.
Harvest through to spring is a critical time to control Psa-v as it provides a natural break in the lifecycle of the disease where infection can be halted.
John says the subsidy is only available to growers to use copper spray a minimum of two times.

'The subsidy only applies if they put on two copper sprays – if they only put on one, they don't get a subsidy.”