Hardy kiwi plant named ‘Tango’

Abstract

A new hardy kiwi is of the variety denominated Tango Actinidia chinensis Planch, originated from open pollination of A. chinensis selections collected in Rome. This new kiwi can be distinguished by its cold hardiness, high fruit quality, and relatively large fruit size.

Claims

1. A new and distinct cultivar of hardy kiwi plant, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its cold hardiness, high fruit quality, and relatively large fruit size.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) This new hardy kiwi plant is illustrated by the accompanying figures that show the flowers, fruit and entire plants; the colors shown in the photographs are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows the yield of Tango kiwi fruit over a 14-year period. In 2004 fruit were harvested but yield data was not recorded. In 2012 the crop was reduced to a few fruit due to a severe frost event during bloom. Extreme low temperature dates in all years occurred between December 6 and February 24.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a comparison of the fruit of Actinidia chinensis Tango (left and right) with commercial kiwifruit A. deliciosa (middle).

(4) FIG. 3 shows Tango plant fruit and foliage.

(5) FIG. 4 shows Tango fruit growing on the plant.

(6) FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show whole and cross-sectioned fruit of Tango cut lengthwise (5A) and crosswise (5B).

(7) FIG. 6 shows a single flower of Tango on the plant in the field.

(8) FIG. 7 shows open flowers and a flower bud of Tango on a cutting taken in the lab.

(9) FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show pictures of Tango plants with full foliage in June of 2019.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

(10) The following description of Tango is based on observations taken over a 14-year evaluation period in Kearneysville, W. Va. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Color designations, color descriptions and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Tango has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Color terminology follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart. London (R.H.S. 4.sup.th Ed., 2001). Leaf color: Adaxial.Mostly green group 141A, some areas 141B. Abaxial.Mostly greyed-green group 191A, some areas 191B. Leaf vein color: Adaxial.Yellow-green 153D. Abaxial.Greyed-yellow 160C, covered in fine pubescence green-white 157B. Large veins often traced with pubescence of greyed-orange 164C. Petiole color: Greyed green 193B, covered in fine pubescence greyed-orange N170D on sun exposed surface, greyed-orange N167C on shaded surface. Petiole: Length (mm).109.2. Width (mm).3.9. Leaf shape: Broadly cordate. Apex.Acuminate, occasionally obcordate. Base.Cordate. Margin.Ciliate. Leaf surface: Adaxial.Glabrous. Abaxial.Tomentose. Leaf blade size: Length (mm).123.9. Width (mm).140.8. Thickness (mm).0.44. Area (mm.sup.2).14377.0. Inflorescence: Solitary, very rarely cymes. Flower diameter: (mm) 35.5. Flowers are fragrant. Petal shape: Broadly ovate. Petal color: Adaxial.White 155C. base of petal white 155A, 144C at point of attachment. Abaxial.White 155C, base of petal yellow-green 144C at point of attachment. Petals become orange 25 C at petal fall. Petal size (mm): Length.18.7. Width.17.3. Petal number: 6. Calyx: Sepals cupped. Sepal color: Green 138D, margins and apex grey-orange N167A becoming greyed-brown 199D at fruit maturity. Sepal size (mm): Length.7.8. Width.5.4. Number.6. Pedicle color: Yellow-green 145C, becoming greyed-brown 199A at fruit maturity. Pedicle size (mm): Length.31.6. Diameter.1.3. Stigma: Stigma color.White 155C. Stigma numbers.27. Stigma size.Diameter (mm) 0.33. Style: Style numbers.27. Style size (mm).Length 5.7. Diameter 0.33. Anther: Anther color.Yellow-orange 11A, occasionally 17D. Becoming yellow-orange 14A at petal fall. Anther size (mm).Length 2.2. Diameter 1.1. Filament: Filament color.White, 155C, becoming green 144C at base. Filament length (mm).6.9. Pollen: Yellow 8D, non-viable. Ovary: Ovary color.White N155C, covered with pubescence white N155D. Ovary size (mm).Length 5.5. Length 5.7. Fruit: Skin color: mostly yellow-green 144B, some areas yellow-green 144A. Skin covered in fine downy pubescence of greyed-orange 165B. Lenticels: Abundant, small, greyed-orange 164B. Lenticel density: 3.9/cm.sup.2. Fruit color: Flesh.Outer pericarp yellow-green 144C with rays of yellow-green 144D. Inner pericarp: yellow-green 144B. Core.Yellow-green 144D. Seeds.Mature seeds are brown group 200D, some are brown 200C. Less mature seeds are greyed-orange 165A. Fruit size (mm): Length.43. Diameter.35. Fruit weight (g): 35. Fruit quality: At harvest brix as a measure of sweetness ranged from 7.6 to 15.4 from years 2002 to 2015. Seed: Elliptical, glossy, entire surface is dimpled. Seed size (mm): Length.2.3. Width.1.3. Thickness.0.9. Seed weight (g): 0.019 per 15 seeds. Vigor: Moderately vigorous to vigorous. Shoot: Length (m) end of growing season.1.8. Caliper (mm).9.5. Color: Yellow-green 144B, becoming greyed-orange 174A on sun exposed surfaces. Covered in dense hairs of greyed-orange N176B. 1-year-old shoots are greyed-orange 165A. Lenticels: Length (mm).2.3. Width (mm).0.44. Density.(0.5 cm.sup.2) 3.86. Color.Greyed-brown 199C. Trunk: Bark, becoming very rough with by year 5. Bark color.2-year-old wood brown 200A, some areas of brown. 3-year-old wood brown N200A. >5-year-old wood brown N200B, some areas brown 201B.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

(11) The size of the fruit of Tango (length 4.3 cm, diameter 3.5 cm and weight 35.0 g) compares with commercially produced Hayward (Actinidia deliciosa) measuring 7 cm in length and 5 cm in diameter, and 85-115 g weight (Cruz-Castillo et al., 1999; Minchin et al. 2010); with A. chinensis Hort16A (ZESPRI GOLD), 76-84 inm in length, width 47-55 mm, weight 43-176 g (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,066); and with grape-sized cold hardy A. arguta with fruit weight of 5-12 g (Kepler and Kabaluk, 1995; Pescie and Strik, 2004; Williams et al., 2003). Fruit yield of Tango averaged 25.7 kg/year over the 12-year fruiting test period (FIG. 1) compared with a recorded yield of 32.5 kg/vine for unthinned A. arguta (Pescie and Strik, 2004).

(12) Tango differs from its parents and other Actinidia chinensis in its combination of cold hardiness, high fruit quality, and relatively large fruit size. In addition, it can be stored for extended periods.