Billion-dollar kiwifruit exporter Zespri is in damage control after the discovery of a suspected outbreak of a vine-killing disease in the Bay of Plenty.READ ALSO: Kiwifruit scare hits Seeka, Satara firstThe Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biose
Billion-dollar kiwifruit exporter Zespri is in damage control after the discovery of a suspected outbreak of a vine-killing disease in the Bay of Plenty.
READ ALSO: Kiwifruit scare hits Seeka, Satara first
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Biosecurity New Zealand is investigating a report of symptoms of Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa).
Zespri spokeswoman Andrea Brady said the disease can be spread through the air and on equipment.
MAFBNZ said is was working closely with Zespri, Plant & Food Research and New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc to confirm if the detected vine infection actually is Psa.
Results were expected on Wednesday.
A Restricted Place Notice has been imposed on the orchard in the meantime.
Biosecurity Minister David Carter has reassured kiwifruit growers that the government was treating the newly discovered vine infection very seriously and is making all necessary resources available.
“We are confident that robust testing will quickly determine the next steps. While the strain of the disease is not yet known, all necessary precautions have been put in place on the orchard to avoid the disease spreading,” Mr Carter said.
