Ban artificial kiwifruit pollination, say Federated Farmers

Federated Farmers wants all artificial pollination of kiwifruit to be suspended, after the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) found traces of a vine-killing bacteria in pollen samples dating back two years.

DNA testing showed the Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (PSA) bacteria in pollen collected in 2009 and 2010 from the Bay of Plenty and South Auckland.

MAF says there is no firm evidence this contamination can infect plants.

However, Federated Farmers say artificial pollination of kiwifruit and pollen imports should be suspended until MAF can be sure all pollen - imported and domestic - is clear of any viruses or pathogens.

"Who in their right mind would continue to tempt fate using artificial pollination?" Federated Farmers Biosecurity spokesperson John Hartnell said today.

It may boost yields but there were "serious biosecurity concerns".

If PSA had been in New Zealand for more than a year, then artificial pollination may have unwittingly spread it throughout the country's orchards, Mr Hartnell said.

"This has not yet been determined, but that uncertainty is why the precautionary principle should be adopted," he said.

"Despite these significant developments, growers are just being asked to be `cautious' when considering artificial pollination."

Any infection could also have a huge impact on the beekeeping industry.

More than 80 per cent of pollination worldwide, including kiwifruit was done by honeybees.

"To jeopardise this has massive implications," Mr Hartnell said.

Screening for bee-related pests and diseases did not appear to be part of the process of importing pollen, and it was "disturbing" that untested pollen had been allowed into New Zealand from risk countries like China and Chile.

Mr Hartnell believed that untested pollen could be linked to the recent discovery of bee parasite Nosema ceranae in the Coromandel.

Though about 80,000 beehives are brought into orchards during flowering to pollinate vines, growers have made increasing use of artificial pollination in recent years, with an estimated 20 per cent to 30 per cent of the nation's kiwifruit orchards supplementing the job done by bees.

About three tonnes of pollen collected in New Zealand is sprayed or blown on to the vines, because the vines do not naturally attract bees.

During the past two years, 77kg of pollen has also been imported from Chile and 2kg from China.

Initial DNA testing last weekend of kiwifruit pollen imported from Chile showed a single positive result for the vine canker bacteria.

Biosecurity officials suspended imports and froze remaining stocks of imported pollen during the week, though retesting of the Chilean pollen did not produce any positive results.

MAF response manager David Yard said because many infected orchards had not used artificial pollination, "other mechanisms of spread may be more significant".

Zespri's director of grower and corporate services Carol Ward said if PSA had been here for several years, its outbreak could have been triggered by environmental conditions.

- NZPA