As chemicals lose effectiveness against PsaV, which threatens kiwifruit around the world, scientists aim to find a more natural solution
Researchers at the John Innes Centre in the UK are working with Zespri, the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit, to identify naturally occurring bacteria and use them to develop new methods of combating the devastating bacterial pathogen known as PsaV.
According to the institute, PsaV has infected “the majority” of New Zealand’s kiwifruit orchards as well as others around the world, and chemical controls used now are unlikely to be effective in coming years.
But present control methods often depend on “ecologically damaging” chemicals such as copper and antibiotics, it said.
In addition, Psa populations are apparerntly developing resistance to chemical control methods, which in the near future, will render them ineffective.
“If we don’t come up with ways to treat kiwifuit vines infected, NZ will lose a massive chunk of its agricultural exports” warned group leader Dr Jacob Malone.
The collaboration has isolated kiwi-associated Pseudomonas bacteria. They aim to identify strains that can effectively fight back against PsaV infection.
“I hope we identify something that they are willing to test in the field, something that does a reasonable job of slowing the pathogen” Dr Malone added.
According to the centre, Zespri have supported the work and committed funding for a PhD student to work on the study.
“If this study goes well, it is hoped Zespri and the John Innes Centre will form a longer-term relationship, to realise a sustainable solution for global kiwifruit production,” it added.
