Determination of Flower Characteristics of some Kiwifruit Genotypes (Actinidia Spp.) Obtained with Breeding Program

Authors : Arif Atak, Yeşim Doygacı, Kemal A Kahraman, Gulhan G Kandilli, Abdulbaki Şen

Pages : 7-12

Doi:10.31015/jaefs.18002

View : 22 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2018-03-20

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :All Actinidia species are dioecious, male and female flowers grow on separate kiwifruit plants. In breeding studies, it is generally desirable to obtain female individuals. However, male plants are also of great importance for pollination. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the flower characteristics of the genotypes obtained by breeding studies. This research was conducted in the kiwifruit breeding plot of Yalova Atatürk Horticultural Central Research Institute for two years. Genotypes obtained from cultivars belonging to Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia chinensis were used in the research. At the time of flowering, phenological observations of male and female genotypes, which are prominent in the population, have been made and the developmental stages of the flowers have been determined. At least 10 flowers of each genotype were used to determine the morphological characteristics. Number of leaves, number of petals, number of male organs, number of filaments, number of female organs, number of female organs and number of stylus were examined in order to determine flower characteristics. When the data obtained as a result of two years are evaluated; significant differences have been obtained particularly in terms of flowering time, flowering period, the number of stylus , the filament size, the number of female organs and the number of male organs. Female cultivars/genotypes tend to flowering later than male cultivars/genotypes, and female cultivars/genotypes have shorter filament length than male cultivars/genotypes. It has also been clearly observed that ovaries are not functional in male types.
Keywords : kiwifruit, flowering, phenology, flower structure, selection