KiwifruitPosted 10 years ago under Uncategorized

Kiwifruit is seen as a superfruit by many. It is one of the most alkaline fruits available and has numerous health benefits. The fiber and enzymes within kiwifruit help with digesting foods and removing toxins from the digestive track in the body. With a low glycemic index, it is a good choice of fruit for diabetics. In addition, the high levels of antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin in kiwifruit can help prevent eye problems such as macular degeneration and loss of eyesight. (1)

Taxonomy

The kiwifruit comes from the Actinidia deliciosa plant.

Kingdom (Plantae) → Angiosperms → Eudicots → Asterids → Order (Ericales) → Family (Actinidiaceae) → Genus (Actinidia) → Species (Actinidia deliciosa)

Description

The fuzzy kiwifruit grows on a vine or climbing shrub that can reach up to 30 feet high. The leaves are oval and a couple of inches in length. As they mature, they change from being covered in small red hairs all over to just white hairs on the bottom of the leaf. The flowers are relatively small at up to two inches and change from white to yellow as they age. The kiwifruit vines are considered dioecious and so have either male or female flowers. The edible fruits, a type of berry, are only two to three inches long and covered in brown fuzzy hairs. The inside of the kiwi is bright green when fully ripe with a ring of tiny black seeds around the white center. (2)

Distribution

The kiwifruit originated from the Zheijiang Province in Eastern China and Taiwan, but was brought by Spanish missionaries in the early 20th century to New Zealand which became the world’s largest exporter of the fruit. Today, the kiwifruit is grown in warm, humid climates around the world including throughout southern Europe and California. The kiwifruit needs well-drained but moist and fertile soil to grow. (3)

Nutritional Information

Kiwifruit are high in a variety of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, copper, vitamin K, potassium, vitamin E, manganese, and folate. In fact, one kiwi has 85% RDV of vitamin C which is more than what is in a small orange. They also provide a good source of dietary fiber. (4) Kiwis are also rich in enzymes. (5) The antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin E, in kiwi can help regulate blood pressure and boost your immune system. (6)

Commercial Cultivation

The kiwifruit is hard to establish as a commercially viable crop. New kiwifruit vines are generally done with grafting or cuttings. (7) Because the harvest season runs at a different time of year for New Zealand than other areas of the world that it is grown in, kiwifruit is readily available year round. Kiwifruit from New Zealand is commercially available from June through October while crops grown in California and Europe are commercially available from November through May. (8)

Diseases, Pests, Predators

Kiwifruits are susceptible to various diseases and pests. Different rots, of both the roots and fruits, include armillaria root rot, phytophthora rot, and crown rot. Common pests include scales and leafrollers. Nematodes that attack the roots of the vines can also be a problem. Fruit flies do not seem to affect kiwifruits due to the brown hairs on the fruits. (9)

Sources

http://www.naturalnews.com/041861_superfruit_kiwi_health_benefits.html
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/kiwifruit_ars.html
http://www.botanical-online.com/english/kiwifruits.htm
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=41
http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/enzymes-and-health/
http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com/6-antioxidant-rich-foods-for-good-health/
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/kiwifruit_ars.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=41
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/selectnewpest.kiwifruit.html