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Kiwifruit (Actinidia)
Science programme: Kiwifruit breeding
Our kiwifruit breeding programme, the largest in the world, is based at our research orchards in Te Puke (Bay of Plenty) and Riwaka (Nelson). The new yellow-fleshed cultivar, 'Hort16A' (marketed as ZESPRITM GOLD Kiwifruit), produced from this programme, is now the third most valuable horticultural export from New Zealand. The programme aims to produce other commercially successful green-fleshed and yellow-fleshed cultivars, and some novel types including some with edible (hairless) coloured skin.
Our Actinidia germplasm collection (see Genetic Resources), the largest outside China, provides the raw material for breeding. We are using a range of conventional breeding methods to develop breeding lines and cultivars.
We have no plans to release genetically modified cultivars. The programme is underpinned by genetic studies on the main characters of interest (see Genetics) and by research in biochemistry, physiology and consumer and sensory science.
As well as new fruiting (female) cultivars, we are selecting new males as pollinisers for existing and new cultivars, and new rootstocks to improve the performance of grafted cultivars.
The programme is funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology and by our commercial partner, ZESPRI Group Ltd.
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