In October 2012 KVH established a ‘Kerikeri Controlled Area’ to help prevent the spread of Psa-V in the Kerikeri region.  At the time one Kerikeri orchard had been identified with Psa-V.

Psa-V has now been identified on 26 orchards throughout the Kerikeri region, including orchards outside of the Controlled Area. Therefore, the KVH Board has decided to remove the Kerikeri Controlled Area; and lift the Notice of Direction issued to growers, effective immediately.

Although the notice has been lifted, the National Psa-V Pest Management Plan (NPMP) rules and requirements still apply.  All orchards within the Kerikeri Psa-V Containment Region have rules covering movement of risk items including plants and machinery (within, into and out of the Region), application of crop protection products, vine management, monitoring and reporting of Psa-V symptoms.

During August the use of Hydrogen Cyanamide (often referred to as Hi-Cane) as a bud-break enhancer increases. It is recommended that copper is not applied within a week either side of the application of a bud-break enhancer to avoid potential phytotoxicity issues.

Growers are reminded that strict conditions apply when using Hydrogen Cyanamide to comply with Council air plans. This includes notifying neighbours at lease 12 hours prior to the application of Hydrogen Cyanamide, clear signage must be displayed at orchard entrance and low-drift spray technology is now compulsary.

In May last year the government announced a new direction for science investment by establishing ten ‘National Science Challenges’. The National Science Challenges are established to tackle some of the biggest science-based issues and opportunities facing New Zealand and take a more strategic approach to science investment.

One of the National Science Challenges—New Zealand’s Biosecurity Heritage—is of particular interest to the horticulture sectors as it will direct future investment in both biosecurity and biodiversity research.

MBIE have recently approved the 10-year research plan and allocated new funding of $25.8m for the first five year period.

The research undertaken in this Challenge will be designed to protect and manage New Zealand’s biodiversity, improve biosecurity and enhance the country’s resilience to harmful organisms.

A broad range of stakeholder industries, including KVH, HortNZ and New Zealand Wine Growers, were involved in the development of this challenge and preparation of the research plan. This was through representation on a focused stakeholder advisory group and stakeholder workshops.

KVH and other horticultural sectors will continue be actively engaged. KVH Chief Executive, Barry O’Neil has been appointed to the Governance Group; and KVH Biosecurity Programmes Manager, Andrew Harrison is part of the Industry Advisory Group.

• Click here for more information about the New Zealand’s Biosecurity Heritage challenge.
• Click here for more information about the National Science Challenge.

Last week the KVH Bulletin (31 July) highlighted a number of orchards throughout New Zealand that had not applied a Psa-V protectant spray during the last growing season.

Spray Diary analysis is currently being carried out by industry; and it’s important to remember there is real value gained from the analysis of spray patterns. However, if all sprays are not recorded, it gives industry an inaccurate picture. Furthermore, in the event of an issue arising from a spray application, an accurate Spray Diary record is an invaluable tool to help identify how and why the issue occurred.

Under the rules of the Zespri Crop Protection Standard (CPS) all applications of agricultural compounds must be recorded in the Spray Diary. This includes applications to the orchard floor and shelter.

Growers should ensure all sprays applied post-harvest are recorded in the Spray Diary, along with all sprays applied to crops going forward.
 

This week some Bay of Plenty growers have reported exudate symptoms in their male Hayward vines.  Often observations by pruning teams have triggered monitoring rounds where these have been found.

Many monitored blocks appear free of symptoms. However, in other blocks symptoms range from just a few vines with exudate to a high number of vines with exudate, particularly in blocks with Matua males.

This symptom increase in symptoms is likely due to increased sap flow as spring approaches. Growers are recommended to begin directed monitoring rounds focussing on higher risk plants (i.e. males, young, stressed) and orchard areas with less favourable growing conditions.

Cutting out infection, followed by bagging and removal of infected material from the orchard, is recommended to avoid inoculum build-up on orchard. Growers are urged to plan a proactive spring spray programme to minimise the chances of infection resulting in leaf spot and bud infection later in the season.

Some Gold3 cane collapse is also being seen on orchards. Again, cutting out infected material coupled with a proactive spray programme is recommended.

The new Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS) is supported by robust sampling and testing protocols developed by Plant and Food Research (P&FR). These protocols are leaf-based which presented the challenge of how to reliably test during winter when outdoor plants have no leaves.

P&FR have conducted research into cane testing as a potential solution to this challenge. The final report from this research concluded the uneven distribution of Psa-V in the vines made detection unreliable, compounded by the low levels of Psa-V present in the vines during winter.

Positive results produced by cane testing were true positives. However, there was not sufficient confidence in cane sample selection to confirm a non-detected result on cane samples for nursery certification purposes.

Therefore, the KPCS will continue to use leaf-based testing to provide the appropriate level of confidence for  plant certification purposes; and nurseries will not be tested for certification purposes when leaves are not present .

• Click here for a copy of this cane testing report.

As a result of the wet autumn and early winter weather experienced in many parts of the country, KVH prepared a ‘forward planning’ paper looking at the possible flow-on effects of a cold, wet spring.

The paper was based on learnings from experiences in France during the spring of 2013-14 and was discussed at the recent KVH board meeting. A number of recommendations were made about how we could better assist the industry should we see similar conditions in New Zealand this spring.

• Click here for a copy of the KVH Board Paper

2013/14 Potted Plant Field Trial Report - Elicitors on Gold3 Potted Plants

This trial was established to determine the efficacy of a range of elicitors and CPPU products in inducing a plant immune response to Psa-V, using Gold3 potted plants. All of the elicitors significantly reduced leaf spot in Gold3.

None of the elicitors significantly reduced secondary symptoms, although secondary symptom expression was low in this trial.

Click here to view the report.
 

2013/14 Potted Plant Field Trial Report - Elicitors on Gold3 Potted Plants

This trial was established to determine the efficacy of a range of elicitors and CPPU products in inducing a plant immune response to Psa-V, using Gold3 potted plants. All of the elicitors significantly reduced leaf spot in Gold3.

None of the elicitors significantly reduced secondary symptoms, although secondary symptom expression was low in this trial.

Click here to view the report.