Comparison of some biological features and fruiting potential of Actinidia kolomikta cultivars

The time of phenological changes, growth characteristics, winter hardiness and fruiting potential of 1 - 2 and 3 year-old Actinidia kolomikta (Rupr.) Maxim. plants have been investigated in Kaunas Botanical Garden. The differences in the time of bud burst, blooming, shoot growth and leaf fall comprise only 2 - 3 days for all of the cultivars studied, while the harvest maturity differs more considerably. Evaluation of economically important plant properties (growth, length of shoot, number of fruiting shoots, winter hardiness) allows to characterise the cultivars. The biggest part of berry yield is produced on the short (up to 15 cm) flowering shoots. Negative correlation indicates that with an increasing number of long (mixed) shoots the berry yield decreases. The cultivar 'Paukshtes Shakarva' is distinguished by its berry size (25.4x14.5mm) and mass (3.35 g). However, the highest contents of ascorbic acid is observed in 'VIR-1' and 'Pavlovskaja' -1164.8 and 955.7 mg%, respectively. Except for one-year-old plants of cultivar 'Lande', which showed rather medium winter hardiness, other investigated cultivars wintered poorly. However, the two-year-old plants were sufficiently hardyBotanikos sodasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta