About Actinidia chinensis var. setosa H.L.Li
This is a description of Actinidia chinensis, the parent species of Actinidia chinensis var. setosa. Actinidia chinensis fruits have smooth bronze skin, with a beak-shaped area at the stem attachment. Fruit flesh color ranges from bright green to a clear, intense yellow, and can also be lime green or gold depending on the cultivar's breeding. Compared to A. deliciosa, this species produces fruit that is sweeter and more aromatic, with a flavor similar to that of some subtropical fruits. One particularly popular variety has a red 'iris' ring around the center of the fruit, with yellow outer flesh. Yellow-fleshed Actinidia chinensis fruits command higher market prices than fuzzy kiwifruit. They also have far less hair than fuzzy kiwifruit, making them pleasant to eat without peeling. A commercially grown red-ringed kiwifruit cultivar, patented as EnzaRed, is a cultivar of the Chinese hong yang variety. 'Hort16A' is a golden kiwifruit cultivar sold globally under the brand name Zespri Gold. This cultivar experienced major production losses in New Zealand between late 2010 and 2013, caused by infection with the PSA bacterium. A newer golden kiwifruit cultivar, 'Zesy002', was found to be more resistant to PSA disease. Most New Zealand growers switched to growing this cultivar, and global demand for it remained strong through 2019. This cultivar is marketed under the brand name Zespri SunGold. In its native habitat, Actinidia chinensis grows in thickets, dense oak forests that may contain species like Quercus aquifolioides, Quercus oxyodon, and Quercus lamellosa, open secondary forests, and bushland. It prefers growing on slopes, and also grows well in ravines, at elevations of 200–230 m (660–750 ft) that suit its local microclimate. When grown in Western gardens, it can spread 10 m (30 ft) in all directions. This means it is only suitable for the largest garden spaces unless it is heavily pruned back at the end of each growing season. Actinidia chinensis is naturally found in southern China and Taiwan. Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa grows in inland forested regions of southwestern China, while Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis usually grows in warmer coastal provinces of southeastern China. The ranges of these two varieties overlap in southeastern Shaanxi, southwestern Henan, and western Hubei and Hunan, where intermediate plant forms occur. Actinidia chinensis var. setosa is endemic to Taiwan.
