Fresh research added to KVH website

Research supports the value of applying winter coppers in managing Psa.

A research project has determined the source of leaf inoculum in Hayward from bud-break to senescence and shows Psa can be found on both the outside of winter buds and within the buds themselves as they expand in Spring. Read more here.

In a linked project, molecular tools detected overwintering Psa on kiwifruit vines and quantified levels of inoculum before and after application of winter copper sprays. Copper was shown to reduce the overwintering Psa inoculum load on the vines. This research shows winter coppers reduce populations of Psa that we cannot see but which we know contribute to the Psa disease cycle. Read more here.

Research backing kiwifruit management strategies.

Two further reports added to the KVH website this week illustrate the value of research in improving understanding of orchard management best practice.

A pre-flower girdling study showed girdling vines 30 days before flowering resulted in significantly less bud rot than in non-girdled vines. This was the case for both Hayward and Green 14 vines. The research also found Psa to be the dominant microbial species and most likely cause of infected buds. Read more here.

In a study to better understand how root pruning may impact vine susceptibility to Psa, metabolites found in leaves following root pruning were studied. Increased concentrations of procyanidin metabolites were seen and further work is under way to see if this is part of a disease response within the vine. This response is similar to that observed by others studying metabolic responses of plants to stress. Read more here.