The bacteria responsible for killing kiwifruit orchards throughout the Bay of Plenty has been found on another orchard in KeriKeri –more than a year after the last positive test.

Kiwifruit Vine Health has received Psa-V positive test results from two separate laboratories on a female vine in a kiwifruit orchard in Kerikeri.

While this is not the first Psa-V positive result in the Kerikeri region it has been more than a year since the first positive orchard was identified in October 2012.

The newly-affected orchard is within the existing ‘Kerikeri Controlled Area' established in October 2012, and 8km from the first positive orchard.

KVH Chief Executive, Barry O'Neil, says the infected vine was found during a monitoring round to determine if Psa-V was present in the orchard.

'This will be a big disappointment to Kerikeri growers. As the disease has not been evident in the Kerikeri region for more than 12 months, KVH was in the process of carrying out a testing programme to determine if Psa-V could still be identified in the region.

'However due to this latest find, this programme will no longer continue and the existing Kerikeri Controlled Area will remain in place.”

The infected vine was within a 1.5 hectare block and showed leaf symptoms. The grower immediately removed the infected vine and has applied a winter rate of copper on the entire block. The remainder of the block is planned for complete removal.

'Kerikeri experienced a significant weather event recently, with up to 170mm of rain falling on the region.

'This highlights the importance of regular monitoring to detect the disease early, and applying a crop protection prior to weather events that allow Psa-V to spread. These include prolonged periods of rain and wind,” says Barry.

Kerikeri growers and local postharvesters are carrying out extensive monitoring in the area. All orchards within the Controlled Area need to be monitored at lease fortnightly; and subsequent results submitted to KVH.