Seeka advises that, as a result of its on-orchard monitoring system in Australia, it has notified Agriculture Victoria of unusual bacterial related symptoms in the orchards under development. The symptoms are consistent with the PSA disease (pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae) – although the presence of this disease is still to be positively confirmed. Seeka has advised Agriculture Victoria, who are now moving to take samples for analysis.
In total, Seeka has 154 hectares of kiwifruit in Australia of which 93 hectares are the Hayward variety [green] and in production. The remaining 61 hectares are in development, with 47 hectares planted in root stock and ungrafted, and 14 hectares grafted two years go. As part of preventative measures, Seeka has removed the grafted canopy from 4.5 hectares of the 2-year-old vines, with the remainder under watch. The Hayward variety in production does not appear to be affected and Seekas’ experience in New Zealand is that Hayward can tolerate PSA.
CEO Michael Franks said the removal of 4.5 hectare of grafted canopy includes the new red and gold varieties they grafted there, “These are varieties we consider to be susceptible to PSA and the removal is a precautionary measure. We have advised the Chief plant health officer of the symptoms and they are arranging to take samples, and in due course will confirm if we have PSA or not.
“The belief is that PSA naturally dies off in hotter temperatures and where we grow kiwifruit in Australia it is not uncommon to reach temperatures above 40 degrees, so our belief is that we just have to get through the spring period, remove those plants which are infected and wait for the hot weather. We are not nervous about what is happening, we think our protocols should work. We have gold there which is grown in a PSA environment in New Zealand, so we are just working out our strategy.”
If this is confirmed as PSA it will be the first outbreak in Australia
The detection is in the non-producing part of the orchard, and normal hygiene and response protocols have been put in place. Seeka is removing suspicious plant material and is re-evaluating the varietal mix to be grafted into the orchards under development and is likely to have a greater focus on Hayward, which is less effected by PSA, if that is the disease.
Seeka does not expect any material financial impact on the current year as a result of the detection and the company’s guidance remains unchanged.
Seeka will update the market on any material change or confirmation.
For more information:
Michael Franks Seeka Chief Executive
+64 21356516
Rob Towgood Seeka General Manager Commercial
+64 274638788