More Kiwifruit orchards infected with a virulent strain of vine disease PSA may have to be destroyed.

Latest reports from Kiwifruit Vine Health suggest around 25 orchards infected with PSA may have developed a so called “Italian isolate” of the infection, which devastates vines.

Kiwifruit Vine Health Chairman John Burke says they’re currently assessing which orchards may need containment and which, if any, will need to be destroyed.

"We’re looking at containing the disease.

"The infected orchards are in a concentrated zone in Te Puke so our strategy is containment, and within those orchards we are looking at mapping where the infection is.

As an extreme we would be looking at cutting out and removing vines from those orchards."

Mr Burke says great growing conditions in the rest of the country means overall production may not be too badly affected.

The new season’s harvest begins in a few weeks.

For the latest KVH report, head here to their website.