Reports of the kiwifruit vine disease Psa-V have been minimal compared to this time last year but the industry is expecting that to change as sap begins to flow in spring.

Kiwifruit Vine Health CEO Barry O'Neil says no new incidences of the aggressive disease have been reported in the last week reflecting a generally quieter situation than last year.

There have been no new reports of PSA in the region this week.

'This may be the result of a milder winter, and an extended period of low Psa-V risk weather conditions.
In areas where sap flow has begun, and more particularly where vines have been stressed through the last growing season, KVH is receiving some calls reporting red and white exudate in male vines within blocks that suffered high levels of Psa-V in Spring 2013.”

Growers are being reminded of the importance of ensuring protective sprays are in place prior to high risk weather events, and the importance of continued monitoring to determine the on-going status of their orchard blocks.

Currently 2243 orchards, representing 75 per cent of the industry, have at least some vines with the infection. Te Puke remains the most heavily infected region with all its orchards affected.

The only regions with no reports of Psa-V are Whangarei, North-west Auckland, Wanganui-Horowhenua and the South Island.

Last week kiwifruit vines growing in a suburban orchard in Auckland were removed by the Ministry for Primary Industries after it was found they had been grown from seed illegally imported in 1999.

'Our immediate concern was the potential risk they posed to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry. As a result, all plants have since been destroyed and safely disposed of,” says Barry.

'To eliminate any further risk associated with these illegal plants, a thorough tracing plan is currently underway to determine what movement of this material, if any, occurred over the past 14 years.”

KVH and MPI continue to work together and will keep growers updated of the tracing progress and the outcome of the tracing report, says Barry.