A new and distinct Actinidia chinensis cultivar named ‘KZ02’ is disclosed, characterized by a distinctive yellow inner pericarp and a mid seasonal harvest time. The new variety bears fruit heavily and produces a consistently shaped oblong shaped fruit. The new variety is suitable for commercial production of kiwi fruit.

Latin name of the genus and species:Actinidia chinensis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program under the direction of the inventor, Donald Alfred Skelton, a citizen of New Zealand. The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling varietyActinidia chinensis‘A87’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to asActinidia chinensis‘A20’. The crossing was made by the inventor during 1992.

Fruit of the new variety was first evaluated in 1995 with favorable results. After the first evaluation, semi-hardwood cuttings were made of ‘KZ02’ and were grafted onto seedling rootstocks ofA. deliciosa. Evaluation, asexual propagation and grafting all first took place at a research nursery in North Waikato, New Zealand. Subsequent evaluations of the variety have shown the characteristics to be true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘KZ02’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘KZ02’ as a new and distinctActinidia chinensiscultivar:1. Heavy bearer2. Consistent fruit shape3. Medium plant vigor.4. Precocious5. Flowering late April, early May6. Inner pericarp coloration near Yellow 4A

PARENT COMPARISON

The new variety is similar to the seed parent variety in some horticultural characteristics. However, the new variety differs in the following;1. The new variety has an oblong fruit shape, compared to the ovoid parent fruit.2. The new variety produces mature fruit during mid-season, compared to late season fruiting of the seed parent.3. Fruit of the new variety is much larger than that of the seed parent4. The new variety flowers mid-season, the seed parent flowers early season.

The new variety can be compared to the pollen parent variety, however, the plants clearly differ, as the new variety is a fruit producing female plant and the pollen parent is a non-fruiting male plant. Additionally, the new variety differs in the following;1. The new variety flowers later than the pollen parent variety.2. No fruit is produced by the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

The new variety is best compared to the commercial variety, ‘ZESY002’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,355. ‘KZ02’ is similar to ‘ZESY002’ in many horticultural characteristics, however, ‘KZ02’ differs in the following:1. Ploidy; the new variety is a diploid, ‘ZESY002’ is a tetraploid.2. The new variety flowers mid season, this comparator flowers late season.3. The new variety produces fruit with a brigher yellow(4A) inner pericarp, compared to 8D of this comparator.

The new variety can be compared to the commercial variety ‘Y368’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,721. ‘KZ02’ is similar to ‘Y368’ in many horticultural characteristics, however, ‘KZ02’ differs in the following:1. The new variety flowers mid season, this comparator flowers early season.2. The new variety produces mature fruit mid season, this comparator produces mature fruit early season.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘KZ02’ plants grown outdoors under commercial trial conditions in Rangiriri, New Zealand. The growing temperature ranged from 10° C. to 30° C. during the day and −3° C. to 15° C. at night. Annual rainfall is approximately 125 cm per year. Measurements and numerical values represent an average of 10 typical plant types, measurements of foliage taken from mid June to mid August.Botanical classification:Actinidia chinensis‘KZ02’.

PROPAGATION

PLANT

FOLIAGE

FLOWER

FRUIT

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

Storage life: Storage life is a minimum of 100 days at 2° C.Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to pathogens and pests common toActinidia chinensishave been observed.Temperature tolerance: Tolerates low temperatures to approximately −5° C. without negative effects, tolerates high temperatures to approximately 35° C. without negative effects.