Patent Publication Number: US-PP20347-P2

Title: Actinidia chinensis plant named ‘Z487’

Description:
Latin name of the genus and species:  Actinidia chinensis.    
   Variety denomination: ‘Z487’. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program, begun in 1975 under the direction of the inventor, Donald Alfred Skelton, a citizen of New Zealand. The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as  Actinidia chinensis  ‘A124’ The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as  Actinidia chinensis  ‘RY.’ 
   Fruit of the new variety was first evaluated in 1999 with favorable results. After the first evaluation, the new variety was grafted onto 5 seedling rootstocks; 3 of  A. chinensis  and 2 of  A. deliciosa . Subsequent evaluations of the variety have shown the characteristics to be true to type. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The cultivar ‘Z487’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. 
   The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Z487.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Z487’ as a new and distinct  Actinidia chinensis  cultivar:
         1. Distinctive yellow/green flesh fruit.   2. Seasonal harvest time of late February.   3. Very soft, downy pubescence on fruit, with weak adherence to the fruit skin.   4. Oblong fruit shape.   5. Fruit with a distinctive blunt stylar end shape and square shoulders.       

   COMPARISON TO PARENT 
   Plants of the new cultivar ‘Z487’ are similar to plants of the seed parent,  Actinidia chinensis  ‘A124’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Z487’ produce fruit that is narrower, more oblong than obloidAdditionally, fruit of the new variety ‘Z487’ reaches maturity for harvest approximately 8 weeks earlier than ‘A124.’ 
   As the new cultivar is a female, comparison to the pollen parent, is not provided. 
   COMMERCIAL COMPARISON 
   The new variety is best compared to the commercial variety, ‘Hort16A,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,066. ‘Z487’ is similar to ‘Hort16A’ in many horticultural characteristics, however, ‘Z487’ produces mature approximately 10 weeks earlier than ‘Hort16A.’ Additionally, the new variety produces an a broader fruit shape. Fruit of the new variety‘Z487’ are distinctively blunt on the stylar end, compared to the strong pointed stylar end shape of ‘Hort16.’ Fruit shape differences can also be noted in the shoulder shape. Whereas ‘Z487’ produces fruit with strongly squared shoulder, ‘Hort16A’ fruit have rounded shoulders. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH 
     The accompanying photograph in  FIG. 1  illustrates in full color typical foliage and flowers on plants of ‘Z487.’ 
       FIG. 2  illustrates in full color typical fruit, on the plant of ‘Z487.’ 
       FIG. 3  shows examples of typical fruit harvested from ‘Z487.’ 
       FIG. 4  is a comparison of fruit of similar varieties, including the female parent ‘A124’ and the commercial comparison, ‘Hort16A.’ 
     The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques. 
   

   DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
   In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Z487’ plants grown under outdoor commercial trial conditions in Rangiriri New Zealand. The growing temperature ranged from 10° C. to 25° C. with no precipitation. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.
     Botanical classification:  Actinidia chinensis  cultivar ‘Z487.’   

   PROPAGATION: 
   ‘Z487’ can be successfully grafted onto rootstocks of  Actnidia chinensis  or  Actinidia deliciosa.    
   PLANT 
   
       
       
         
           
             
                 Age of the plant described.— Approximately 5 years. 
                 Height of the plant described.— Approximately 2 years. 
                 Width of the plant described.— Approximately 4 meters. 
                 Rootstock of plant described.— Actinidia chinensis. 
                 Sex expression.— Female. 
                 Ploidy.— Diploid. 
             
           
         
       
     
  
   FOLIAGE 
   
       
       Leaf:
             Average length.— Approximately 15.5 cm.     Average width.— Approximately 16.0 cm.     Shape of blade.— Very broadly ovate.     Apex.— Rounded.     Base.— Cordate, not overlapping.     Attachment.— Petioled.     Margin.— Ciliate.     Texture of top surface.— Very slightly puckered.     Texture of under side.— Moderately glossy, non-pubescent.     Color.— Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 141A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 141C.     Petiole.— Length: Range between 14.0–15.3 cm. Pubescence: None. Other characteristics: Moderate anthocyanin on upperside of petiole.       
     
     
  
   FLOWER 
   
       
       
         
           
             
                 Bud break.— Late August. 
                 First flower.— Mid October. 
                 Diameter.— Average 4.5 cm. 
                 Petal quantity.— 6 to 10 per flower. 
                 Petals overlapping.— Yes. 
                 Primary color.— White. 
                 Filament color.— White. 
                 Anther color.— Brown. 
                 Attitude of styles.— Semi-erect. 
                 Hair on ovary.— Dense. 
                 Color of ovary.— White. 
                 Number of sepals.— 6 to 10. 
                 Color of sepals.— Near RHS Green 141C. 
                 Margin of sepals.— Entire. 
                 Apex of sepals.— Acute. 
                 Base of sepals.— Truncate. 
             
           
         
       
     
  
   FRUIT 
   
       
       
         
           
             
                 Color outer pericarp.— Near RHS Yellow-Green 154C. 
                 Color inner pericarp.— Near RHS Yellow-Green 1D. 
                 Core color.— Near RHS White 158D. 
                 Brix at consumption.— Minimum 16.0. 
                 Brix at harvest.— Average 7.60%. 
                 Average weight.— 100.9 grams. 
                 Minimum weight.— 85 grams. 
                 Maximum weight.— 115 grams. 
                 Length.— Avg. 65 mm. 
                 Width.— Avg. 55 mm. 
                 Core diameter ( maximum ).—12.0 mm. 
                 Core diameter ( minimum ).—5.0 mm. 
                 Locule number.— 32. 
                 Fruit peduncle length.— 35–45 mm. 
                 Fruit peduncle width.— 3.0–4.0 mm. 
                 General shape.— Oblong. 
                 Median cross section.— Circular. 
                 Stylar end shape.— Slightly blunt protruding. 
                 Shoulder shape.— Squared. 
                 Calyx ring.— Present. 
                 Calyx ring expression.— Strong, 13–16 mm diameter. 
                 Skin color at harvest.— Near RHS Grey-Orange 165D. 
                 Hair on fruit skin.— Downy. 
                 Hair adherence to skin.— Weak. 
                 Fruit core shape.— Elliptic. 
                 Core - woody spike.— Small. 
                 Mature seed color.— Black. 
                 Dried seed.— Brown. 
                 Harvest time.— Late February. 
                 Overall cropping quantity.— 25 to 35 tons per hectare. 
             
           
         
       
     
  
   OTHER CHARACTERISTICS 
   
       
       Storage life: Storage life is a minimum of 3 months at 2° C. 
       Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to  Actinidia chinensis  have been observed.