New Zealand kiwifruit marketer Zespri and agricultural research trust AgMardt are funding research to see how canopy structures affect infections of vine disease Psa.

Zespri GM for science and innovation David Tanner, said interim trial results were being made available as they came to hand, with a full report due this Southern Hemisphere spring.

"Some early-adopter growers are investigating and implementing different ways of keeping their vines protected from rain and wind and Procan is one of the companies offering a product that does this," he said.

"Zespri has a covered orchard of a different style in Italy from another provider and covered orchards are standard growing practice in Korea.

"The long-term implications will be apparent when the trial results are released and growers will decide for themselves whether to invest in this approach."

Tanner added Zespri was not funding the capital development of these structures.

www.freshfruitportal.com