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Botanical Description

2016; Springer International Publishing; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-3-319-32274-2_1

2199-479X

Allan Ferguson,

Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies

Kiwifruit belong to Actinidia, a genus comprising more than 50 species found mainly in southern China. All members of the genus are climbing plants and are functionally dioecious. The fruit are berries with seed embedded in a fleshy pericarp. The kiwifruit of commerce are large-fruited selections of two varieties of the species, A. chinensis Planch.: A. chinensis var. chinensis and A. chinensis var. deliciosa (A. Chev.) A. Chev., formerly known as A. deliciosa (A. Chev.) C.F. Liang et A.R Ferguson. Other Actinidia species are grown on a small scale or have limited commercial potential: A. arguta (Sieb. et Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq., A. eriantha Benth. and A. kolomikta (Maxim. et Rupr.) Maxim. Commercial cultivation techniques must take into account the biological characteristics such as the growth habit, flowering and dioecism. Diversity in fruit characteristics, such as flesh colour and flavour, potential health benefits and responses to storage are important commercially.