Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa, Actinidiaceae), also known by the less common name “Chinesegooseberry,” is one of 50 known species within the genus Actinidia. These species are climbing, woodyvines with large, heart-shaped leaves and cream-colored fl owers that bloom in the spring.
The fl owersare dioecious, with male and female blossoms found in separate individuals. The kiwifruit matures inearly winter and typically has brown fuzzy skin. Depending on the species, the fl esh is either green oryellow, but all species are fi lled with small black, edible seeds. While A. deliciosa accounts for about90% of kiwifruit in international trade, two other species are cultivated and sold commercially: A.chinensis and A. arguta. Actinidia deliciosa is the common green kiwifruit.
The most common cultivarof A. chinensis is “Hort16A,” known by the brand name ZESPRI, or “gold kiwifruit.” Actinidia arguta isreferred to as “baby kiwi” or “grape kiwi” due to the small size of its fruits. Actinidia species are native tosouthwestern China, but they are now cultivated in New Zealand, the United States, Italy, France, Chile,and Japan.
