ABSTRACT
Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa [A. Chev.] C.F.Liang et A.R.Ferguson var. deliciosa) (1) is an amazing example of a fruit that in about one century was domesticated and conquered the world market.
Actinidia, a genus containing about 60 species of dioecious vines (2), has its center of evolution probably located in southwestern China. In the 19th century, Actinidia chinensis was introduced into Europe, America, and New Zealand from China (3-5).
