NZ: Zespri monitoring Psa spread

Zespri International, which controls exports of the nation's kiwifruit, is keeping tabs on the spread of vine bacteria disease Psa-V which is showing signs of infection in new gold varieties.

Listed kiwifruit packer and grower Satara Co-operative Group has warned its shareholders of the potential adverse impact Psa-V could have on its business. Pseudomonas syringae PV actinidiae is again showing clear evidence in orchard vines, Satara managing director Tom Wilson said in a statement to NZX.

"Of heightened concern, there is evidence that Psa-V is now impacting the Green Hayward kiwifruit variety that was seen to be tolerant of the Psa-V last season," he said. "The new varieties, G3 Gold and G9 Gold are also showing signs of the infection."

Seeka Kiwifruit Industries made a similar observation in a statement to the stock exchange last week.

Zespri expected the new strains to show signs of infection as the vines wake up from dormancy and the fruit marketer is monitoring developments.

"It won't be until towards the end of spring and start of summer that we get an understanding of what's happening," Zespri spokesman David Courtney said.

Source: tvnz.co.nz