Gold kiwifruit

The gold kiwifruit or yellow kiwi (t/a Kiwi Gold) is a variety of kiwifruit developed by the company Zespri International Ltd. The yellow kiwi is a different species (Actinidia chinensis), but of the same genus as, the green variety (Actinidia deliciosa).

Gold kiwifruit
Genus	Actinidia
Species	Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis
Marketing names	Kiwi Gold
Origin	New Zealand (1992)

History

In 1977, New Zealand agronomists from Zespri International transported A. chinensis seeds from China to the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand, where green kiwifruit had been cultivated for years. After a selection process, in 1992 a selection was obtained that had yellow flesh and sweet pulp. It was designated as Hort-16A.^[1]

Commercialization

In 1998, Zespri introduced the yellow kiwi in the Japanese market, and in 2000 in Europe.^[1]

Characteristics

In terms of organoleptic properties, the yellow kiwi has a less hard texture, and its skin is finer, smoother and less rough than the green kiwi fruit. The yellow kiwi has a yellowish color and is sweeter.

In terms of size and weight, it does not show significant differences (between 5 and 8 cm long).^[2]

Agronomy

Cultivation of the yellow variety is less widespread due in part to its high susceptibility to bacteriosis, especially canker (also known as PSA (Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae)).^[3] The first cultivar of gold kiwifruit, Hort16A, which is marketed internationally as ZespriGold,^[4] suffered significant losses in New Zealand between 2010 and 2013 due to a PSA outbreak. In 2012, almost half of New Zealand's yellow kiwifruit was lost, so Zespri developed a new variety, SunGold.^[5][6] A new variety called Zesy002 was discovered, which was resistant to PSA.^[7]

Cultivars

Some varieties of yellow kiwi are:^[3]

• AC1536 or Dori, a relative of Dori Europe developed by Consorzio Dori Europe, highly productive, yellow intense and very early variety
• A-19 or Enza Gold, the variety most similar to the green kiwifruit, both in acidity and in external appearance;
• Hort16A or Zespri Gold, the first variety of yellow kiwi;
• JB Gold or Kiwi Kiss, highly productive and large
• Jintao or Jin Gold, highly productive, smaller than Hort16A and of Chinese origin;
• Soreli, highly productive, of Italian origin;
• SunGold, a relative of Zespri Gold developed by Zespri;

See also

• Hayward, the most cultivated kiwifruit variety

References

1. "¿Cuándo apareció el kiwi Zespri™ Vita Gold?". Zespri (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-21.
2. "Kiwi de pulpa amarilla / Actinidia deliciosa". Planfor (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-21.
3. García Rubio, J. C.; García González de Lena, G.; Ciordia Ara, A. "Variedades de kiwi. Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario". Serida.org. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
4. Ferguson, A.R. (1999). Janick, J. (ed.). "New temperate fruits: Actinidia chinensis and Actinidia deliciosa". Perspectives on New Crops and New Uses. Alexandria, VA: ASHS Press: 342–347.
5. "History of Zespri Sungold Kiwi fruit". Zespri. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
6. "Zespri SunGold kiwifruit". Zespri Group Ltd. 2019. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
7. Skerret, A. (2019-05-23). "Zespri reports record revenue, as global kiwifruit sales boom". New Zealand NewsHub. Retrieved 2022-03-21.