Growth and Compositional Changes in Kiwifruit Berries from Three Californian Locations

Kiwifruit [Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C. F. Liang et A. R. Ferguson var. deliciosa cv. Hayward] berries were sampled from three Californian locations, two sites in the central valley (near Davis and Fresno), the other on the coast (near Watsonville). Samples were analyzed for nitrogen, lipid, starch, soluble sugars, organic acids and ash, at regular intervals from flowering until harvest. The results of the analyses of the fruit from the two central valley sites were similar, but markedly different from those from the cooler coastal site Sugar/acid ratios were consistently higher in fruit from the coast than the central valley. This may prove a useful refinement to the current maturity index.