Occurrence of Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome and Its Prevention Using Rootstock Tolerant to Waterlogging

Abstract

Kiwifruit industry has been threatened by the emergence of kiwifruit vine decline syndrome causing plant death within one or two years from symptom appearance. The main symptoms of this syndrome are root cortex breakdown, leaf necrosis, phylloptosis, fruit skin wrinkling, and twig wilting. Kiwifruit vine decline syndrome occurred on both <i>Actinidia chinensis</i> var. <i>chinensis</i> and <i>A. chinensis</i> var. <i>deliciosa</i> in mid-summer after rainy season. Kiwifruit vine decline syndrome was turned out to be severely occurred in wettable clay soils affected by waterlogging or poor aeration. No pathogens were directly correlated with the syndrome. Kiwifruit vine decline syndrome could be expected to be efficiently prevented controlled using Bounty 71 rootstock tolerant to water stress such as waterlogging.