Psa-V has been identified on eight more kiwifruit orchards in the Bay of Plenty this week, but the infections may have been there for a while.

Kiwifruit Vine Health is reporting three new cases in Katikati, three in Tauranga and two in Whakatane, found as a result of a following up ‘not detected' orchards with postharvest companies.

The total number of orchards with Psa-V is now at 2110.

The discoveries bring the total number of orchards with the disease to 2110.

In response, KHV says growers should continue to advise their suppliers when suspicious Psa-V symptoms are found on previously ‘Psa-V undetected' orchards.

Seventy-one per cent of all kiwifruit orchards have some vines infected and that includes all growing regions, except North and West Auckland, Whangarei and the South Island.

The industry is bracing itself for an increase in disease symptoms this winter and spring as the virus is more active in cold wet conditions.

Zespri CEO Lain Jager says the summer has given growers a respite from the disease and brought a lift in spirits.

The return of symptoms is likely to see that optimism fall somewhat, but Lain says growers and the industry are now more familiar with the patterns of the disease and growers are coming to terms with its management.

'The hot dry summer has given a three to four month breather from Psa and most growers have harvested a crop.

'What we know from the last couple of seasons is that it's important to protect the vines going into winter and spring.”

Psa is now established in all major kiwifruit growing countries of the world and French growers have been hard hit.

France has experienced its coldest, wettest spring in 25 years and as a result vines in many areas are under high levels of stress. This makes them more prone to a range of diseases including Psa.

Orchard manager Matt Ryan for the Bay of Plenty post-harvest company and kiwifruit grower DMS is currently in France as a recipient of Zespri's Bruce Stowell Exchange Scholarship.

As part of the scholarship Matt will report on his observations of the difference in Psa-V severity between neighbouring French orchards, which have applied different levels of protective spray.

New Zealand kiwifruit growers will be given an update on the latest research and development into Psa-V at a meeting in Te Puke on Tuesday, June 18 which will be broadcast live on line to growers around the country.

The meeting is at The Orchard Church, 20 MacLoughlin Drive, Te Puke, from 3-5pm.
KVH is also in the final stages of developing an easy-to-use, online option for growers to develop Psa-V Orchard Management Plans which must be in place by August 1, 2013.
The new online form will allow growers to fill in all areas of the Psa-V Orchard Management Plan through a series of simple tick-boxes and drop-down menus.

Once complete, the form is emailed to the grower in PDF format to download, save and/or print out. This form will be used as part of their GAP compliance audit and will ensure they are complying with the NPMP.