The latest Psa statistics released be Kiwfruit Vine Health this week show that more than a fifth of the country’s kiwifruit orchards are infected with the vine-killing bacteria.

KVH says over the past week there has been a marked increase in Psa-V symptoms on kiwifruit vines in the Te Puke area, and nearby regions.

255 new Psa-V results brings the total number of orchards with infected vines to 689, or 20.6 per cent of orchards.

On Friday KVH was still waiting for the outcome of a test from a KeriKeri orchard that could prove negative, and that the disease had not spread to that region so far, as was feared last week.

And a new plant activator that in laboratory and greenhouse trials has shown to be effective against Psa-V has been approved.

Actigard is being released to growers as part of the seasonal Psa Management Programme.

KVH says The Environmental Protection agency ruled Actigard poses little risk to humans, bees or non target plants, when used as directed.

For more information visit www.kvh.org.nz