The PSA disease has spread to kiwifruit orchards in the South Island and eradication is looking unlikely, Biosecurity Minister David Carter says.

The Kiwifruit Industry Advisory Council has put together a grower support package which it will propose to Biosecurity Minister David Carter and other parties tomorrow.

Biosecurity Minister David Carter says hopes of eradicating the Psa disease are fading, with the number of infected orchards climbing.

The kiwifruit crisis in the Bay of Plenty is reaching new heights, with the number of stricken Te Puke orchards today doubling to eight. Another 82 are under investigation.

It was just another day at Zespri, until the phone rang and the jaw-dropping news came through.

As suspicions grow that Psa has spread to kiwfruit orchards outside the BOP, MAF says it's unlikely it will be able to eradicate the disease.

The Govt could learn today whether diseased kiwifruit vines will need to be destroyed, as leaves begin to wilt on the first properties reported.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is preparing to copper-spray kiwifruit orchards affected by the vine-killing Psa bacteria, despite reservations it could do more harm than good.

Spraying kiwifruit vines with copper spray in hopes of controlling the vine-killing bacteria PSA has been put on hold today as growers and experts discuss the consequences of the action.

Seventy-five properties have made contact about possible Psa symptoms, with the Govt worried the disease may be far more widespread.

A round-up of information about the kiwifruit vine disease Psa.

The presence of the devastating kiwifruit disease Psa has been confirmed at a second kiwifruit orchard, and Zespri says it has received photos of potential symptoms of the bacterium at 43 orchards around the country.

A kiwifruit industry expert is warning that under reaction to the vine canker disease could be fatal for the industry.

A third Kiwifruit orchard has been placed under 'restricted place notice' after symptoms of a bacterial infection were found.

The public is being asked to stay away from all kiwifruit orchards as the extent of a bacterial outbreak already confirmed on one Bay of Plenty property remains unclear.

Agriculture Minister David Carter will hold talks with kiwifruit growers after symptoms of a vine-killing disease were found at a second orchard.

MAF has now quarantined a second Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard over a suspected outbreak of the devastating disease Psa.

Labour's biosecurity spokesman says cuts to jobs and funding are behind the outbreak of the devastating kiwifruit disease Psa.

Kiwifruit disease researchers are trying to answer a crucial question - how long has Psa been here in New Zealand?

One option for containing the bacteria found on a kiwifruit orchard may be to rip out the infected vines and burn them, Zespri's head says.