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[R] Actinidia chinensis Planchon (Dilleniaceae).
Fr: Actinidia; Ge: Kiwi; Sp: Kiwi; It: Kiwi; Pt: Kiwi.
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- A creeping climbing, perennial that has been cultivated for only a few years in Europe (*) .
- Italy and France are the principal producing countries in Europe.
- The fruit (kiwi) is a large oval berry covered with a greenish-brown shaggy cuticle, a pale green flesh with tiny black seeds, that is consumed fresh (*) .
- It is grown from supports along a hanging wire giving it a T-shape. One male plant is recommend for 8 to 10 female ones. Pollination is artificial. Flowering occurs in June and the fruits ripen from October to December.
- Propagation is by grafting, seeds or cuttings.
- A plantation starts to produce after about 5 years and reaches full production at about 10 - 12 years.
- The cultivation of kiwi is relatively recent, so the effects of diseases and pests are not as yet fully evaluated.
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- Diseases: the cultivation of kiwi is too recent to determine if the diseases discovered thus far are potentially serious. Up to this point, prophylactic measures (plant choice, choice of location to avoid frost, awareness of humidity, wind, etc.) have maintained healthy cultures.
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- Principal European pests: a number of enemies, common to other fruit crops, have been observed, particularly the West Indian peach scale (Pseudaulacaspis pentagona) and root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.).

[R] Images

* Kiwi bough (Minost C.)
a: leaf hairy, hart-like, with long petiole; b: fruit (kiwi) = berry oval; skin greenish-brown and hairy; pulp green containing small black seeds.

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HYPPZ on line: Species (scientific names), Pests (common names), Glossary, Crops.

HYP3 : HYPP Phytopathology.

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