Kiwifruit (Actinidia) vines are being infected by a disease caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae, called ‘Psa’.The gold variety of kiwifruit appears to be particularly susceptible to the disease, which is spread by airborne spores. Early symptoms of the disease are brown, angular leaf spots, sometimes surrounded by a yellow halo, and leaf curl. The disease impacts the health and viability of the plant, not the fruit directly.Psa has the potential to devastate the kiwifruit growing industry. The future of the kiwifruit industry will be dependent on the development of a range of kiwifruit varieties that are resistant to Psa. Discuss the biological implications of selective breeding of resistant kiwifruit varieties. Your answer should include details on how selective breeding of these plants is carried out and the advantages and biological implications of having Psa-resistant kiwifruit vines.
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