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The need for characterisation and evaluation of germplasm: kiwifruit as an example

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Abstract

Genetic diversity provides the raw material for breeding and plant improvement. Breeders of plant species that have little or no history of improvement tend to make the greatest use of collections of raw or unimproved germplasm. Kiwifruit (Actinidia) are one such crop in that they have been subjected to little selection pressure and are still very similar to plants in the wild. To take advantage of the diversity in the genus Actinidia, breeders need to know the extent of the diversity and also need to be able to identify the plants with which they are working. Voucher specimens should be prepared for all plants used in experimental studies. A good understanding of the reproductive biology of Actinidia should facilitate incorporation of wild germplasm into kiwifruit breeding programmes. The HortResearch Actinidia collection has already proved its worth with the development of valuable new kiwifruit cultivars.

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Acknowledgements

I acknowledge helpful discussions with RA Beatson, G Cipriani, PM Datson, LG Fraser, H-W Huang, the late C-F Liang, RG Lowe, MA McNeilage, BG Murray, T Paterson, AG Seal, R Testolin, J-H Wu and G-J Yan. I thank FA Gunson and C Kingston for reading the manuscript.

The HortResearch Actinidia germplasm collection is supported by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, the HortResearch Kiwifruit Royalties Investment Programme and ZESPRI International Ltd.

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  1. HortResearch, Private Bag 92 169, Auckland, New Zealand

    A. Ross Ferguson

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  1. A. Ross Ferguson
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Correspondence to A. Ross Ferguson.

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Ferguson, A. The need for characterisation and evaluation of germplasm: kiwifruit as an example. Euphytica 154, 371–382 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-006-9188-2

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