A New Zealand taskforce is on the cusp of completing a genomic sequence of kiwifruit vine-killing disease Psa, website Nzherald.co.nz reported. 

The TaskForce Green Network - commissioned by companies Seeka and EastPack and conducted at Otago University - has found one of the two strains thought to be Psa is in fact a 'distant relative' and is not a threat to the country's kiwifruit industry, the story reported.

The result means that the virulent strain Psa-V is still what it was thought to be, but the other strain which has been found in Golden Bay, Motueka and Hawkes Bay is likely not such a danger, the story reported.

Seeka chief executive Michael Franks told the website the result gave a clearer picture of what steps the industry could soon take.

"Because we've got the genomic sequence just about done, the team should be able to focus on exactly what we've got to do to deal to it," he was quoted as saying.

"As the Psa V [virulent strain] is still limited to the Bay of Plenty, it's still worth considering the possibility of completely eradicating the pathogen."

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