To be successful participants in the horticultural sector, producers of indigenous crops need to target optimal production through improved agronomy and quality parameters. Our aim is to help them achieve this.

This project is investigating pathogenic issues for four crops indigenous to New Zealand:

• kamokamo (Cucurbita spp.)
• kanga (localised cultivars of Indian corn; Zea mays)
• kokihi (New Zealand spinach; Tetragonia tetragonioides)
• hue (bottle gourds; Lagenaria siceraria)

Three trial grounds were planted at Massey University in November 2007 and design is now underway for a further kamokamo glasshouse trial being established for the winter.