A reminder for any growers interested in being included in the current Phytophthora survey to please get in touch.

Plant & Food Research, KVH and Zespri have been working together on a survey of Phytophthora pathogens in kiwifruit orchards throughout New Zealand. This is a two-year project and to date 50 sites have been sampled within the spring 2020 and autumn 2021 sampling rounds.

Focus is on spring and autumn sampling timings as Phytophthora thrive in wet conditions after periods of rain. The next survey round gets underway this month and we are looking for a further 25 sites from across the Eastern Bay of Plenty (Whakatane, Edgecumbe, and Opotiki), Gisborne, Waikato and Hawke’s Bay growing regions.

Sampling includes the collection of root and soil material, and leaves, from four vines with both healthy and symptomatic vines included. More information is available here.