INDUCED PARTHENOGENESIS IN KIWIFRUIT (ACTINIDIA-DELICIOSA) THROUGH THE USE OF LETHALLY IRRADIATED POLLEN

Parthenogenetic development of seeds after pollination with irradiated pollen was studied in the dioecious species Actinidia deliciosa (kiwifruit). In total, 479 pollinations were made involving three recipient female cultivars, with five male and two hermaphrodite pollen donors. Pollen was irradiated with doses of 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 kGy, all three doses produced parthenogenetic seeds. The 0.7 kGy dose yielded the highest number of germinating seeds (708 of a total of 723), of which 609 developed into seedlings, and 334 survived to grow into plants. Ploidy level was evaluated by cytological studies and stomatal guard cell size. In a total of 416 seedlings and plants evaluated, 332 plants were hexaploid ('diploid' 2n = 170) and 84 plants were triploids ('haploids' 2n = 85).