Articles
New kiwifruit cultivars – super fruits for Romanian producers and consumers
Article number
1444_7
Pages
47 – 54
Language
English
Abstract
Actinidia is a relatively new fruit species in Romania, where breeding, testing, and the introduction of climate-adapted kiwifruit cultivars have become strategic goals in the national fruit-growing program.
The first kiwifruit orchards with Actinidia were established in 1993, in Ostrov (Constanța County), on the border of the Danube River.
In the same year, a collaborative Italian-Romanian kiwifruit breeding initiative was launched at the Faculty of Horticulture within the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest.
Since then, research has focused on propagation techniques, orchard establishment, and management practices tailored to Romanian conditions.
Annual phenological observations of the genotypes were conducted, taking into account the climatic conditions recorded during each growing season.
Regarding postharvest, the physical and biochemical characteristics of the fruit were evaluated both after harvesting and during storage.
After more than 30 years of research, the Faculty of Horticulture in Bucharest registered six new kiwifruit cultivars.
These include four cultivars from A. deliciosa (three female – ‘Kisweet’, ‘Kiball’, ‘Kigiant’, and one male – ‘Kiflor’) and two from A. arguta species (one female – ‘Ariana’ and one male – ‘Andros’). Additionally, two other new cultivars, ‘Vip Green’ and ‘Vip Red’, registered a few years ago at CPVO Angers, showed a good adaptability to Romania’s climatic and pedological conditions and are recommended for further evaluation in new growing regions to support orchard expansion.
The first kiwifruit orchards with Actinidia were established in 1993, in Ostrov (Constanța County), on the border of the Danube River.
In the same year, a collaborative Italian-Romanian kiwifruit breeding initiative was launched at the Faculty of Horticulture within the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest.
Since then, research has focused on propagation techniques, orchard establishment, and management practices tailored to Romanian conditions.
Annual phenological observations of the genotypes were conducted, taking into account the climatic conditions recorded during each growing season.
Regarding postharvest, the physical and biochemical characteristics of the fruit were evaluated both after harvesting and during storage.
After more than 30 years of research, the Faculty of Horticulture in Bucharest registered six new kiwifruit cultivars.
These include four cultivars from A. deliciosa (three female – ‘Kisweet’, ‘Kiball’, ‘Kigiant’, and one male – ‘Kiflor’) and two from A. arguta species (one female – ‘Ariana’ and one male – ‘Andros’). Additionally, two other new cultivars, ‘Vip Green’ and ‘Vip Red’, registered a few years ago at CPVO Angers, showed a good adaptability to Romania’s climatic and pedological conditions and are recommended for further evaluation in new growing regions to support orchard expansion.
Authors
L.M. Udrea Iliescu, F. Stănică
Keywords
Actinidia arguta, Actinidia chinensis, Actinidia deliciosa, breeding program, environmental adaptability, genotype evaluation, kiwifruit cultivar development
Groups involved
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Working Group Vaccinium Species and Management
- Working Group Rubus and Ribes Species and Management
- Working Group Kiwifruit Culture and Management
- Working Group Strawberry Culture and Management
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