FLOWER AND FRUIT CHARACTERS IN A KIWIFRUIT HERMAPHRODITE

The dioecious genus Actinidia includes the kiwifruit, A. deliciosa. Cu rrently, the kiwifruit industry is based predominantly on a single fem ale cultivar, 'Hayward', with up to 13% of the orchard canopy in comme rcial blocks in New Zealand consisting of unfruitful males vines, nece ssary as pollinizers. The development of hermaphrodite cultivars becam e a possibility with the identification of inconstant males, which car ry a mixture of staminate flowers and bisexual flowers, the latter dev eloping into small fruits containing seeds. This paper describes a her maphrodite vine, obtained as a rare variant among the progeny from a c ross between 'Hayward' and an inconstant (fruiting) male. Testing of p ollen from all flowers in one season and measurement of fruit characte rs after self-setting demonstrated this seedling is completely hermaph roditic, carrying only bisexual flowers, with no restriction on sellin g. Although it does not have commercial potential, it will be used as a parent. Perceived benefits from the development of hermaphrodite cul tivars include increased productivity, improved pollination, simplifie d vine management and therefore substantial cost savings.