Differences in fruit and seed characteristics of some kiwifruit cultivars bred in Korea affected by pollen donors

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate fruit and seed characteristics pollinated by four pollen donors and to select the best pollen donor which is good at producing commercial fruits from some kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) cultivars bred in Korea. The experiment about ‘Haeguem’ and ‘Redvita’ was carried out from 2018 to 2019, and that of ‘Garmhwang’ and ‘Sunfl’ was from 2021 to 2022. The fruit setting rate of all cultivars, which were pollinated by four pollen donors, exceeded 90% for two years. In ‘Haeguem’ and ‘Redvita’, the fruit weight was the heaviest with ‘Chieftain’ and was the lightest with ‘Pohwa’. In ‘Sunfl’ and ‘Garmhwang, the fruit weight with ‘Deliwoong’ and ‘Chieftain’ was heavier than that with ‘Pohwa’ and ‘SKK2’. About the fruit characteristics of ‘Haeguem’, the dry matter content and soluble solids content were the highest with ‘Pohwa’ in 2019, and malic and quinic acid contents were the highest for two years with ‘SKK2’. The total number of seeds was the highest with ‘Chieftain’ and the lowest with ‘SKK2’ for two years. In ‘Redvita’, dry matter content was high with ‘SKK2’ and ‘Deliwoong’ in 2019. Titratable acidity was the lowest for two years with ‘SKK2’. The total number of seeds and the number of mature seeds in ‘Redvita’ were the highest with ‘SKK2’. Dry matter content and soluble solids content of ‘Sunfl’ was the highest with ‘SKK2’ and ‘chieftain’ respectively only in 2022, but neither had significance in 2021. Titratable acidity was the lowest with ‘Chieftain’. The total seed number was the most with ‘Deliwoong’ and ‘Chieftain’. In ‘Garmhwang’, dry matter content with ‘SKK2’ was the highest. Soluble solids content with ‘Deliwoong’ was higher than with other pollen donors in 2021 but lower than with ‘SKK2’ and ‘Pohwa’. The total seed number was the most with ‘Deliwoong’ and ‘Chieftain’. © 2025 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved.