Wednesday 14 October 2020

Kiwis Go 'Down Under' in Italy

Italy is the second largest producer (behind China but actually above New Zealand) producer of Kiwi fruit in the world. That crop is now, however, being decimated by 'moria' (or 'die-off'), as the vines producing, what is actually a large berry, wither, blacken and die (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/08/mystery-disease-killing-italys-kiwi-fruit-trees-baffles-scientists ). There is no cure and scientists are baffled. Bacteria and fungi have been examined as potential causal agents but no one pathogen has been found in all the dead vines. Factors such as soil type and watering regimes have also been looked at, without supplying an answer. It may well be a combination of factors but that makes it a very difficult problem to resolve.

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