The first kiwifruit orchard in Rotorua is confirmed with Psa-V, forming a total of 889 infected properties in total.
Some 25 per cent of New Zealand kiwifruit orchards are now affected.
The Whakatane Priority Zone has been extended to include the Rotorua area.
This comes after three orchards have also been confirmed with vine bacterial disease in Pukekohe.
'That's disappointing that it's bounced outside the Bay,” says Kiwifruit Vine Health Incorporated general manager John Burke.
'But in some respects, not unexpected, because we're going to see a gradual spread.”
John says the concern is they don't know how long Psa-V has been in New Zealand for so the extent of the potential spread is unknown.
'We've put in all of these biosecurity measures, but prior to that we were merrily going about our business and there is the possibility we could have spread it inadvertently prior to identifying the disease in the country.”
Johns says they are continuing to monitor orchards around the country.
1 comment
Still in denial?
Posted on 03-12-2011 14:30 | By Zestco
Ho! When will you ever learn!!!!!!!! The fact: PSA is in the wood, has been there from year dot! The new virulent form developed in the gold variety wood which appears to have a weaker immune system. It has been distributed all over the world in the scion wood. Use of antibiotics to which PSA is resistant will lead to development of super bug PSA which will decimate the more resistant Green Kiwifruit. The sprays used are phytotoxic, they are weakening the immune system of the plants and predisposing them to disease. The solution: It is a vascular disease and therefore can be managed effectively using integrated pest management. The great advantage is this process is not a cost drain but proven to deliver a higher orchard gate returns. Nathan Balasingham M Hort.Sc. MRSNZ Indigo Ltd.
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