Cane testing for nursery certification

07 August 2014

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.