Kiwifruit is a new emerging crop for the southeastern United States that requires cross-pollination to set fruit. However, the pollination requirements for varieties grown in the southeastern United States are unknown. Through insect surveys and a bagging experiment, we assessed the pollination requirements of two female kiwifruit cultivars (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis ‘AU Golden Sunshine’ and A. chinensis var. chinensis ‘AU Gulf Coast Gold’). For each, fruit quantity (fruit set) and fruit quality (weight, size, seed count, firmness, soluble solid content, and dry matter) were compared among three pollination treatments (wind, insect, and artificial pollination). Low abundances of insects were observed visiting female flowers of both kiwifruit cultivars, and therefore likely minimally influenced kiwifruit pollination. Artificial pollination resulted in the greatest percentages of fruit set and marketable fruits, followed by insect and wind pollination. Artificial pollination resulted in fruits that were greater in weight, size, and contained more seeds, than insect- and wind-pollinated fruits. Firmness and soluble solid content did not vary greatly between pollination treatments, yet were greater in ‘AU Golden Sunshine’. Dry matter content did not vary greatly between pollination treatments or between each cultivar. To maximize yields and optimize fruit quality, these results suggest that kiwifruit producers should place more effort into artificial pollination compared to wind and insect pollination. Future research should explore the use of managed bees (e.g., honey bees and bumble bees) within kiwifruit orchards to determine ways to utilize them as a secondary source for pollination needs.

中文翻译：

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美国东南部种植的两种猕猴桃品种（Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis 'AU Golden Sunshine' 和 'AU Gulf Coast Gold'）（Ericales: Actinidiaceae）的授粉和果实品质

奇异果是美国东南部新兴的作物，需要异花授粉才能结果。然而，美国东南部种植的品种的授粉要求尚不清楚。通过昆虫调查和套袋实验，我们评估了两种雌性猕猴桃品种（猕猴桃'AU Golden Sunshine'和A. chinensis var.chinensis'AU Gulf Coast Gold'）的授粉需求。对于每种情况，比较三种授粉处理（风、昆虫和人工授粉）之间的果实数量（座果）和果实质量（重量、大小、种子数、硬度、可溶性固体含量和干物质）。观察到低丰度的昆虫造访两种猕猴桃品种的雌花，因此可能对猕猴桃授粉的影响最小。人工授粉导致坐果和可销售果实的百分比最高，其次是昆虫授粉和风授粉。人工授粉产生的果实比昆虫和风授粉的果实重量更大，种子更多。授粉处理之间的硬度和可溶性固形物含量差异不大，但在'AU Golden Sunshine'中更大。授粉处理之间或每个品种之间的干物质含量没有很大差异。为了最大限度地提高产量和优化水果质量，这些结果表明，与风和昆虫授粉相比，猕猴桃生产者应该在人工授粉方面付出更多努力。未来的研究应该探索管理蜜蜂的使用（例如，