Zespri will pick up the cost to test for the residue of a controversial antibiotic spray which kiwifruit growers have been given approval to use in the fight against Psa.

Kiwifruit Vine Health has approved the use of KeySprepto, an antibacterial treatment containing the active ingredient streptomycin, for protection against Psa in the Psa Priority Zones and high risk areas.

Zespri spokesman David Courtney says Zespri has a nil-residue standard for the fruit and will be testing any fruit grown on orchards that use the KeySprepto spray.

The spray has strict regulations around its use, including only spraying pre-flowering, 'so nowhere near the fruit”, says David.

'It's underlined that we're going to have a testing regime where by all orchards that we know use KeyStrepto – because they'll have to register the use of it – they'll be tested to see if there are any residues on the fruit; and any fruit found to have residues won't be accepted for export.

'We're well aware of potential market access issues, which is why these rules have been established to ensure that doesn't become an issue – which will be backed up by this testing regime.”

KeyStrepto is just one of the ‘pre-flowering' spray options KVH has recommended to growers fighting the bacterial disease, Psa-V, which is currently devastating to orchards in the Te Puke region.
Last week a further 21 KPINS – Kiwifruit Property Identification Number (used to identify a property on which kiwifruit is produced) were identified with Psa-V. All in the Te Puke region.

This brings the total number of orchards with Psa-V to 228. One is in the Tauranga region, the rest are in the Te Puke region.

KVH general manager John Burke says the approval is on a controlled release and use of KeyStrepto is for a short window – until September 30, 2011.

Previously, the New Zealand kiwifruit industry has had a ‘no-antibiotic use' policy, however, John says other sectors in the horticultural industry have used the spray since 1979.

'We've been really reluctant to use it obviously because of its antibiotic implications; however, we're in very serious situation with our growers.”

John says KeyStrepto is only one of about nine protectants available to growers.
'KeyStrepto – its mode of action – it's a knockdown spray. We've got the coppers, which tend to be longer acting, we've got biological sprays and a mix of others. Growers will elect amongst a sweat of protection options, what's best for them.

'It's not going to be 100 per cent of growers that are going to use this spray, probably at a rough guess probably in that 50 per cent range.”