Scientists from the University of Otaga have confirmed that the virulent bacterial disease Psa currently decimating New Zealand kiwifruit orchards originated from China.
Through mapping the genome of the bacteria responsible for Psa and analysing strains from China, Japan, Italy, New Zealand and Chile, scientists obtained evidence of an independent Chinese origin for the current New Zealand outbreaks.
Their findings also pointed to the 2008 Italian and 2010 Chilean outbreaks coming from China.
Worryingly for New Zealand’s kiwifruit growers, scientists found distinct genetic encoding traits that could mean the particular strain of the disease affecting orchards there is more aggressive.
Their study has been published in the Plos One journal on 28 February.
Host-microbe interactions team leader in the Bioprotection Technologies Group of Plant & Food Research Dr Matt Templeton said their findings have important implications both for managing the disease and New Zealand’s approach biosecurity.
Psa, first detected in New Zealand in 2010, currently affects approximately 69 per cent of the country’s kiwifruit orchards. It has caused a significant reduction in fruit yields and a price rise of up to 20 per cent.
No comments yet