Image via WikipediaKiwifruit disease found in NZ
Topics: Could devastate NZ industry...
Business newsA potentially devastating Kiwifruit disease has been found in New Zealand.
Psa or Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae is a bacterial disease which affects the health of the vines, but not the fruit. It carries no risks for human health and does not affect other plants.
Biosecurity Minister David Carter said it was unclear how the disease arrived on our shores and it was possible it has been here for some time but dormant, reports the New Zealand Herald.
Industry meetings will be held today to deal with the possible crisis, but David Carter said the news should not cause panic, even though it has the potential to upset trade.
The disease has infected vines at an orchard in the Bay of Plenty.
Growers will be told in today's meetings how to recognise symptoms of Psa and advised of best practice orchard hygiene.
MAF Biosecurity is working with ZESPRI, Plant & Food Research and New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) to tackle the Psa threat.
Kiwifruit companies Seeka and Satara halted trading yesterday, with Satara chief financial officer Paul Moriarty later saying if the disease was dealt with promptly, its impact would not too significant in the short-to-medium term.
"But if [the disease] becomes too prevalent across the industry then it will become a major issue," he said.
Satara are expected to lift the trading halt later today.
Psa was first identified in green kiwifruit vines in Japan and later in Italy, and can be spread by airborne spores or equipment.
Psa or Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae is a bacterial disease which affects the health of the vines, but not the fruit. It carries no risks for human health and does not affect other plants.
Biosecurity Minister David Carter said it was unclear how the disease arrived on our shores and it was possible it has been here for some time but dormant, reports the New Zealand Herald.
Industry meetings will be held today to deal with the possible crisis, but David Carter said the news should not cause panic, even though it has the potential to upset trade.
The disease has infected vines at an orchard in the Bay of Plenty.
Growers will be told in today's meetings how to recognise symptoms of Psa and advised of best practice orchard hygiene.
MAF Biosecurity is working with ZESPRI, Plant & Food Research and New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) to tackle the Psa threat.
Kiwifruit companies Seeka and Satara halted trading yesterday, with Satara chief financial officer Paul Moriarty later saying if the disease was dealt with promptly, its impact would not too significant in the short-to-medium term.
"But if [the disease] becomes too prevalent across the industry then it will become a major issue," he said.
Satara are expected to lift the trading halt later today.
Psa was first identified in green kiwifruit vines in Japan and later in Italy, and can be spread by airborne spores or equipment.
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