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Horticulturae
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Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Kiwifruit
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Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Kiwifruit

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Fruit Production Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 2539

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Junjie Tao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Kiwifruit, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
Interests: kiwifruit; germplasm; breeding; molecular biology
Prof. Dr. Chunhui Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Kiwifruit, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
Interests: kiwifruit; germplasm; breeding; fruit quality management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is a vital horticultural crop globally, celebrated for its nutritional richness and economic value. However, challenges such as climate change, disease susceptibility (e.g., Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae), and evolving consumer demands for quality and sustainability necessitate innovative approaches to cultivation and breeding. Advances in cultivation and breeding are critical in enhancing yield, fruit quality, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability. Modern techniques, such as gene editing, genomic selection, marker-assisted breeding, and high-throughput phenotyping, are accelerating the development of new cultivars. Meanwhile, improved cultivation strategies, including optimized pollination, canopy management, and nutrient efficiency, contribute significantly to orchard sustainability and productivity.

This Special Issue, “Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Kiwifruit”, will showcase original research articles and reviews that explore cutting-edge strategies for kiwifruit improvement. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Novel cultivation techniques for kiwifruit;
  • Sustainable cultivation techniques (e.g., precision irrigation, organic systems);
  • Development of disease-resistant and climate-resilient kiwifruit varieties;
  • Application of molecular breeding and biotechnology for trait improvement;
  • Fruit quality enhancement: flavor, aroma, nutrition, and postharvest performance;
  • Innovations in cultivation techniques, pollination, and orchard management;
  • Conservation and utilization of kiwifruit genetic resources;
  • Physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying key agronomic traits.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Junjie Tao
Prof. Dr. Chunhui Huang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • kiwifruit
  • cultivation
  • breeding
  • fruit quality
  • genetic resource

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3089 KB  
Article
The Regulatory Effects of Different Girdling Treatments on Leaf Senescence Characteristics and Fruit Quality in Kiwifruit
by Siyu Wang, Qian Chen, Meng Zhang, Huihui Tao, Guiqing Tu and Chao Xu
Horticulturae 2026, 12(3), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12030332 - 10 Mar 2026
Viewed by 470
Abstract
This study elucidates the regulatory mechanisms of girdling on leaf senescence and fruit quality in ‘Jinyan’ kiwifruit, providing a theoretical basis for high-yield and high-quality cultivation. Ten-year-old vines were subjected to single (5 mm, 9 mm) and double (5 mm, 9 mm) girdling [...] Read more.
This study elucidates the regulatory mechanisms of girdling on leaf senescence and fruit quality in ‘Jinyan’ kiwifruit, providing a theoretical basis for high-yield and high-quality cultivation. Ten-year-old vines were subjected to single (5 mm, 9 mm) and double (5 mm, 9 mm) girdling treatments at two distinct stages: peak flowering stage (Group A) and 10 days post-anthesis (Group B). Physiological markers, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzyme activities, were monitored at 10, 35, and 70 days post-treatment and integrated with fruit quality metrics using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Physiologically, girdling induced a transient oxidative burst, characterized by increased ROS accumulation proportional to girdling intensity. This triggered a robust antioxidant defense response, where superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) activities peaked at 35 days, effectively mitigating oxidative damage (MDA) during the healing phase. Concurrently, metabolic substrates (soluble protein, starch, and sugar) were significantly enriched in leaves. Agronomically, all treatments enhanced fruit yield, single-fruit weight, and soluble solids content (SSC). Notably, double girdling treatments specifically promoted fruit elongation and dry matter accumulation. Comprehensive evaluation identified distinct optimal strategies: while moderate single girdling (A2) was superior during flowering, double girdling (B3, B4) proved most effective post-anthesis. Ultimately, double girdling performed 10 days post-anthesis emerged as the optimal regimen, effectively balancing source-sink relationships to maximize both physiological function and fruit quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Kiwifruit)
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17 pages, 2567 KB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification of R2R3-MYB Family Members and Identification of AaMYB1/AaMYB36 Linked to Peel Coloration in Northern Red-Peel Actinidia arguta
by Ru Zhang, Yongqiang Zhang, Jie Cheng, Xiaoxu Yang, Meiyu Jin, Yilong Piao and Songhao An
Horticulturae 2026, 12(2), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae12020234 - 14 Feb 2026
Viewed by 505
Abstract
Kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) has been rapidly commercialized. However, fruits produced in northern growing regions predominantly have green peels, and the red/purple peel phenotypes remain relatively rare, which limits the discovery and utilization of red-peel germplasm. Peel reddening is primarily caused by [...] Read more.
Kiwiberry (Actinidia arguta) has been rapidly commercialized. However, fruits produced in northern growing regions predominantly have green peels, and the red/purple peel phenotypes remain relatively rare, which limits the discovery and utilization of red-peel germplasm. Peel reddening is primarily caused by the accumulation of anthocyanins, and R2R3-MYB transcription factors are key regulators of the flavonoid/anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. However, the MYB transcription factor family in the genus Actinidia has been less studied, with few systematic analyses linked to color phenotypes. Therefore, we performed a genome-wide search for R2R3-MYB family members in A. arguta and characterized their physicochemical properties, phylogeny, chromosomal distribution, gene duplication events, and synteny relationships. Furthermore, RNA-Seq analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and gene expression patterns of the rare northern red-peel cultivar ‘Yanlong 1’ revealed that AaMYB1 and AaMYB36 are key candidate genes closely associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis in the fruit peel. Validation experiments revealed that both genes exhibited significantly higher expression during the coloration stage than during the green fruit stage, as well as significantly higher expression in the red-peel cultivar than in green-peel cultivars. Four key structural genes (UFGT, CHS, DFR, and ANS), especially, CHS, DFR, and ANS, displayed a similar pattern of upregulation. These correlative results suggest that AaMYB1 and AaMYB36 are candidate positive regulators of peel-specific anthocyanin accumulation. These results provide important targets for developing molecular markers and improving the red-peel trait in northern A. arguta through breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Kiwifruit)
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12 pages, 7374 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Pollination Potential in ‘Jinfeng’ Kiwifruit Seedling Male Plants Based on Floral Traits and Pollen Viability
by Yanyan Chen, Shilong Qian, Jiliang Dai, Jikang Shi, Hui Tu, Chenxi Le, Junjie Tao and Chunhui Huang
Horticulturae 2025, 11(12), 1432; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11121432 - 26 Nov 2025
Viewed by 857
Abstract
This study systematically assessed floral phenotypic traits, pollen viability, and ultrastructure in 120 male progeny of Actinidia chinensis ‘Jinfeng’. We documented floral features, measured pollen viability using Alexander staining and germination tests, and analyzed pollen morphology through scanning electron microscopy. Correlation analyses examined [...] Read more.
This study systematically assessed floral phenotypic traits, pollen viability, and ultrastructure in 120 male progeny of Actinidia chinensis ‘Jinfeng’. We documented floral features, measured pollen viability using Alexander staining and germination tests, and analyzed pollen morphology through scanning electron microscopy. Correlation analyses examined relationships between pollen viability and floral or pollen morphological traits. Results showed uniform qualitative floral traits but significant variation in quantitative traits. Pollen viability ranged widely (0.3–100%, CV = 43.60%) with consistent outcomes across assessment methods. Pollen grains were mainly prolate to perprolate with three germination furrows, polar axis length (P) ranged from 25.34 to 34.62 μm, equatorial axis length (E) ranged from 11.72 to 16.17 μm, and colpus length ranged from 20.6 to 30.58 μm. Viability was not correlated with quantitative floral traits or anther color but was significantly positively correlated with the polar/equatorial diameter ratio (P/E ratio, r = 0.622), indicating higher viability in perprolate pollen (P/E > 2.0). This study highlights significant genetic diversity in ‘Jinfeng’ male progeny and establishes a relationship between pollen morphology and viability in kiwifruit, providing a theoretical and practical basis for male selection and a foundation for pollen morphology research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cultivation and Breeding of Kiwifruit)
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