The looming spectre of the deadly Psa-V vine-killing disease should not be underestimated by growers in New Zealand, as the latest positive result is uncovered in the country.
That is the message that Zespri and biosecurity group Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) will be driving home to Nelson-based growers at a meeting in Motueka this week, as they look to keep them alert to the threat of the disease.
Some 56 per cent of the country's orchard land is now infected with Psa-V, according to KVH, with positive results continuing to turn up – although Nelson, Northland, Hawke's Bay-Poverty Bay and the lower North Island remain free of the disease as it stands, stuff.co.nz reported.
Other areas have not been so fortunate, however, with KVH revealing today (9 October) that the disease has been found in the Franklin region.
'KVH has received a Psa-V positive test result on male vines in a Hort16A orchard block near Clevedon in the Franklin region,' the organisation announced. 'This orchard is outside of the current controlled area near Pukekohe and brings the total number of Psa-V positive orchards in the Franklin area to ten.'
According to KVH, a new Clevedon controlled area has been established with an 8km radius from the infected orchard, taking in 12 kiwifruit orchards in the Celvedon and Papakura area.
It is currently estimated that Psa-V will cost the industry between NZ$740m-NZ$885m (US$605-US$724m, €466m-€558m) over the next 15 years.
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