Kiwifruit growers are being asked to vote on a move to prevent orchardists in the Psa-V infected Te Puke area from grafting new varieties onto producing Hort16A vines.

Kiwifruit Vine Health is conducting a poll among Te Puke growers seeking their support to prevent the practice called notch grafting, which could see new kiwifruit varieties grafted onto existing Hort16A gold vines.

The move is aimed at reducing Psa-V inoculum levels in the area.

Barry O'Neil, newly appointed chief executive of KVH, says to be successful the poll needs the support of 80 per cent of affected growers. If that is achieved, KVH will request that Zespri support the proposal by making it a condition of its new licences.

Barry says if the proposal goes ahead growers who wish to purchase licences for the new more Psa-V resistant varieties, will have to cut out their Hort16A gold vines, losing the opportunity to produce crops until the new varieties come into production.

However, Barry says because of the high inoculum levels already in the Te Puke area, and because Hort16A is so susceptible to the disease, there is a strong possibility that they would be unable to produce a crop.

KVH considers that notch grafting on Hort16A in areas with high Psa-V inoculum levels will adversely impact the industry's recovery pathway from the disease by making the successful establishment of more tolerant G3 and G14 grafts significantly more difficult.

This would also impact on green Hayward and other varieties' survivability in those infected areas.

KVH is contacting affected growers directly and inviting them to complete a polling form by Monday April 23.

It is also meeting with Te Puke growers to discuss its resolution on Monday April 16, from 3.30– 5pm, and Thursday April 19, from 3.30–5pm, at the Orchard Church, 20 MacLoughlin Drive, Te Puke.

Meetings will also be held during the next few weeks in areas with Psa-V outside of the Te Puke region where Psa-V is also having a significant impact on Hort16A.