Science Media Centre

The long-awaited publication of the Psa-V genome has been widely reported in the news. The research, under taken by Prof Russel Poutler and Colleagues at the University of Otago, was published this week in PLoS ONE. The new study confirms a Chinese origin for the bacteria and reveals gentic clues about why this variant of the plant […]

Scientists have mapped the genome of the bacteria responsible for virulent kiwifruit vine disease Psa, providing evidence for the origins and future biosecurity implications of the ongoing outbreak.  The University of Otago team’s study, preliminary results of which were released last year, are published in final form today in the open access journal PLOS ONE. The researchers analysed […]

A genetic analysis of several strains of the Psa bacterium, conducted by American and Italian scientists, suggests a Chinese origin for the bacterium that has caused millions of dollars of damage to the New Zealand kiwifruit industry. However, more data from affected New Zealand kiwifruit are needed to complete the picture.  The new research, published […]

Samples of  kiwifruit pollen collected from the Bay of Plenty and South Auckland in 2009 and 2010  contain DNA from the bacteria that causes vine canker — Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa) — and researchers say there is now evidence that the  disease incursion originated in China. In recent years New Zealand imported only 2kg […]

Both local and national eyes are closely trained on kiwifruit orchards in New Zealand, with the news that some have been infected by Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (PSA), a vine-killing disease. The disease is caused by a bacterium (PSA) which can be spread through the air and on equipment.  Fears have arisen that the infection […]

Below you will find a collection of research papers examining the impact, spread and characteristics of PSA and canker in kiwifruit in Japan, Korea, Italy and Iran. Click on the links to download the articles. To find a local expert on kiwifruit and or bacterial diseases like PSA, contact the Science Media Centre. Backgrounder: Pseudomonas […]

Scientists battle bacterial disease A week on from the discovery of the PSA bacterial disease in an orchard in the Bay of Plenty, scientists are completing tests that will determine what strain of the disease is present. The results will yield important information that will help determine the best way to limit and eradicate the […]

Michael Dickison writes in the New Zealand Herald about work by NZ scientists which has allowed kiwifruit to be turned into plastic, and sewage into electricity. The work, carried out by CRI Scion, has meant the development of a chemical process which makes kiwifruit melt like plastic in normal factory equipment.  Another process allows the […]

Jon Morgan of the Dominion Post writes about a new investment into the kiwifruit industry, and one which will be the world’s biggest research and development programme into finding and developing new kiwifruit varieties. The investment of $35.7 million will come primarily from Zespri, with the Foundation for Science, Research and Technology providing the remainder […]