POLLINATOR SELECTION IN KIWIFRUIT (ACTINIDIA-DELICIOSA)

Pollinator performance was evaluated in kiwifruit to select pollinators for cv. Hayward adapted to the cultural conditions of southern Europe. Flowering time was determined in forty male seedlings. From, these, nine were selected for having a flowering period overlapping with 'Hayward'. In these nine males, as well as in the commercial pollinators 'Matua' and 'Tomuri', the production of pollen was studied over two years, investigating pollen quantity through flower density and pollen production per flower. Likewise, in vitro pollen viability and its in vitro germination were recorded to study pollen quality. Finally, in vivo pollen performance was studied through fruit set and fruit characteristics in controlled hand pollinations. Two males have been selected with a flowering period coincident with 'Hayward', which produce more than twice as much germinable pollen than commercial pollinators. Whilst there were no significant differences in pollen quality or in fruit production, clear differences existed for pollen quantity in terms of both flower density and pollen production per flower. As pollen quantity, together with flowering time, can be easily evaluated at an early stage, this is encouraging for future selection of kiwifruit pollinators.