Flower and fruit characters in a kiwifruit hermaphrodite

The dioecious genus Actinidia includes the kiwifruit, A. deliciosa. Currently, the kiwifruit industry is based predominantly on a single female cultivar, 'Hayward', with up to 13% of the orchard canopy in commercial blocks in New Zealand consisting of unfruitful males vines, necessary as pollinizers. The development of hermaphrodite cultivars became a possibility with the identification of inconstant males, which carry a mixture of staminate flowers and bisexual flowers, the latter developing into small fruits containing seeds. This paper describes a hermaphrodite vine, obtained as a rare variant among the progeny from a cross between 'Hayward' and an inconstant (fruiting) male. Testing of pollen from all flowers in one season and measurement of fruit characters after self-setting demonstrated this seedling is completely hermaphroditic, carrying only bisexual flowers, with no restriction on selfing. Although it does not have commercial potential, it will be used as a parent. Perceived benefits from the development of hermaphrodite cultivars include increased productivity, improved pollination, simplified vine management and therefore substantial cost savings.