KIWIFRUIT PRODUCTION AND RESEARCH IN GREECE

The kiwifruit is cultivated in many places in Greece, Pieria, however, remains the main area of production.
The industry depends on a single cultivar, the ‘Hayward’. The total production in the last 3 years 1992, 1993 and 1994 was approximately 46,000, 46,000 and 35,000 tons, respectively.
In recent years there is only a very small increase in acreage because of the low prices and the difficulty the farmers face in selling the produce.
From the quantities produced 30–60% are exported to various countries (65% to EU and the rest of it to other countries). The usual planting distances applied are 5x4m and 1:7 ratio male/females.
T- bar and pergola are the main systems of training the vines.
The Winter pruning applied is the medium one (12–15 nodes). Summer pruning is applied when it is required (July-August). Fruit thinning (one fruit/node) is applied when it is necessary.
Fruits are harvested in October-November and the exact date of harvest is determined by measuring the SS content (>6.2%) of the fruit.
Fruits are usually stored under regular storage conditions till April.

The main concern of the research people and the farmers as well is how to produce, keep in storage and deliver into the market fruit of high quality with the lowest cost.
Research activities include propagation, frost protection, nutrition, fruit set-growth-thinning, maturity indices, storage performance, marketing.

III International Symposium on Kiwifruit

V. Kukuryiannis, M. Vasilakakis

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.444.3