Red-fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) breeding in New Zealand

We investigated variability of red flesh colour and other fruit characters in a seedling population of Actinidia chinensis Planch. This trial was a progeny test designed to identify superior parents, particularly male parents, for use in our breeding programme for red-fleshed kiwifruit. Parents were selected from our red-fleshed and non red-fleshed germplasm collections, based on results from previous studies. Significant variation occurred in all characters measured including the intensity and distribution of red pigment within the flesh. About 38% of female seedlings had fruit with some red pigmentation and of these, about 40% had fruit with intense red colour. Results suggested that red flesh colouration is under polygenic control. Female and male parents selected from the red-fleshed germplasm collection produced progenies with red-fleshed fruit in moderate to high frequencies. Generally, fruit with intense red colour had high soluble solids content (SSC) and dry matter (DM) but were small. The phenotypic correlation between red colour and fruit weight was negative but low. Individual vines that produced fruit with intense red colouration, high levels of SSC and DM and reasonable size were selected for further study. Most of the red-fleshed selections had earlier fruit maturity than current commercial cultivars in New Zealand. Moreover, some selections had high vitamin C contents, a trait often valued by consumers. The best male and female parents were identified for use in our breeding programme to improve the size and red colouration of red-fleshed kiwifruit.