|
|
|
Pear orchardists lead new fight over fire blight
21 Jun 2005
Fruit growers are fighting a renewed push to drop an import ban on apples grown in New Zealand, claiming local pear orchards could be wiped out by fire blight disease prevalent in New Zealand. Fire blight is a bacterial disease that affects pipfruit trees, causing their limbs to blacken and die. Apple trees can be damaged and survive, but pear trees are often wiped out. Common in New Zealand, it has not yet been found in Australian orchards. Biosecurity Australia is expected to release an updated risk assessment on NZ apples in coming months after assessing stakeholder submissions on the draft guidelines.
The Australian, 21/06/05
|
|
