NZ: G3 kiwifruit showing signs of PSA
CEO of Seeka Kiwifruit Industries Michael Franks says while it is unclear whether the symptoms in both newly grafted and more mature G3 vines will progress, their appearance is worrying.
G3 is showing signs in both grafted and mature plants.
Michael has made a statement to the NZX, saying that orchard monitoring over the last week had detected more symptoms of Psa in green Hayward plants and further symptoms in G3. As a publicly listed company Seeka is required to regularly update the market on any event which may have an effect on its share price.
As the vines come out of their more dormant winter state, signs of the disease have been found on orchards in Te Puke Paengaroa, Otamarakau and Maketu and symptoms are also evident in green Hayward males and female vines at Oropi.
"Sap moves in plants more during the lunar cycle and we had a full moon just a few weeks ago. Almost immediately after that the symptoms were noticed.
"We will know more in the next couple of weeks but I am not taking too negative a view at this stage."
Michael says that, whilst they will sound like a huge blow to growers, it has always been known that G3 was not immune to the disease - just less susceptible.
As the vines currently have no leaves, those which are infected are showing red ooze or cankers.
Experience in Italy showed that green growers who actively managed their orchards were less impacted by the disease than those who did nothing.
Source: sunlive.co.nz
