Psa-V confirmed on Coromandel orchard

The kiwifruit vine-killing disease Psa-V has been found on a Coromandel kiwifruit orchard.

Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc (KVH) have received a provisional Psa-V positive result on four Gold9 vines in a kiwifruit orchard in Whenuakite in the Coromandel.

This is the first reported case of Psa-V in the Coromandel region.

A verification process is underway and the results are expected tomorrow.

KVH have set up a controlled area within a 10 kilometre radius of the infected orchard.

This affects 18 other kiwifruit growers.

KVH met with Coromandel growers yesterday and updated them on the incursion, explained the newly-established controlled area and discussed next steps and orchard protection options.

KVH chief executive, Barry O'Neil, said the affected and adjoining vines in the Coromandel orchard had been removed and disposed of.

He said the Coromandel had been identified as a high- risk region for a Psa-V incursion, given its close proximity to Psa-V infected areas in the Bay of Plenty.

He said KVH was working with affected Coromandel growers to contain the spread of the disease and minimise its impact on kiwifruit orchards in the Coromandel region.

Extensive monitoring of orchards is underway and an incursion trace-back investigation will be carried out to  understand how the infection arrived in the Coromandel region, he said.

For more information about best-practice orchard management protocols, see the Grower sections on the KVH website www.kvh.org.nz