Kiwifruit grower community rumours that pollination is the source of the Psa disease found at a Te Puke orchard on Monday are inaccurate according to Kiwi Pollen Ltd director Jill Hamlyn.

'News of the discovery has come just at the start of the three-week Hayward kiwifruit pollination season,” says Jill.

'We understand that Psa symptoms were seen on one of the affected orchards prior to flowering, and before any pollen application this season.

'Maintaining the high quality of New Zealand's kiwifruit crop is of utmost importance to all within the industry, including ourselves.

'It is disappointing that some people are making assumptions about the cause of this crisis rather than waiting to hear the facts.

'We need to be working together to manage the situation and to ensure that our markets are accurately informed.

'Kiwi Pollen Ltd has a strict policy of adhering to all MAF regulations. We have always done our utmost to ensure the high quality of our products.

'We source pollen from quality orchards in both New Zealand and the only imported pollen is from similar orchards in Chile.

'No pollen has ever been sourced from Italy, where Psa is a major problem.

'In addition to MAF bio-security protocols for importing pollen, Kiwi Pollen engage Assure Quality NZ in additional independent testing to ensure the high quality of both local and imported product. The pollen we were preparing to use this season tested negative to Psa.

'As kiwifruit growers ourselves, we ask the industry to ensure that they are up-to-date with the potential incidence of Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa) in the North Island, and that orchardists comply with Zespri International Ltd's latest advice at www.zespricanopy.com”.

Jill says confirmation of an outbreak of Psa in kiwifruit is of major concern to providers of kiwifruit pollen to the industry. She says pollination is vital in helping to increase the yield and quality of kiwifruit vines and the fruit, and that the pollination season for Hayward (Green kiwifruit) started on November 1 and runs until December 5.