There are significant research efforts underway in New Zealand and Australia to develop more advanced control tools that will reduce the impact of Queensland fruit fly - kiwifruit’s number one biosecurity threat. An exciting new development this week is the launch of a female specific fruit fly trap in Australia. Currently our surveillance traps have used pheromones that attract only male flies so a female specific trap is a research priority.  

Growers with green blocks at high risk of bud-rot infection should be applying a pre-flower girdle now to manage flower bud infection risk.

KVH has received reports of Psa symptoms from three Arguta orchards this week.

Leaf spot, blackened leaves and shoot collapse has been observed on two varieties and test results from Hills confirmed samples as Psa positive. 

There has been a new positive Psa result for Whangarei on a trial variety within the current controlled area. The block showing symptoms has been removed and no symptoms have been seen in surrounding blocks. The Whangarei controlled area remains in place.

Following consultation with Gisborne growers, the KVH Board has approved the change of the regional classification for Gisborne under the NPMP from a Containment region to a Recovery region, effective from 20 October. It has been confirmed that 58 percent of orchards in the region are have tested positive for Psa-V and 72 percent of kiwifruit hectares are on an orchard confirmed positive.  

A group from Chile recently visited the Bay of Plenty to learn more about our kiwifruit industry and to understand how New Zealand growers are managing their orchards to minimise the impact of Psa. 

Growers in ‘Exclusion’ regions and all growers with ‘Not Detected’ orchards were required to carry out a round of mandatory monitoring in October. Results are due to KVH by 31 October.

With the Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme becoming mandatory on October 1st, KVH is pleased to announce another nursery has joined the Scheme this week. Amber Nurseries in Cambridge is now selling KPCS “Full Certification” plants, joining 13 other nurseries from around New Zealand. 

KVH have an exciting development opportunity for a future leader within the Kiwifruit Industry.