Structure and development of fruit and seeds in Chinese gooseberry (Actinidia chinensisPlanch.)

Abstract

The development of fruit and seed tissues in Chinese gooseberry (Actinidia chinensis Planch. cv. ‘Monty’) was examined at intervals after flowering. Cell division in all fruit tissues commenced immediately after flowering and persisted in the outer pericarp, inner pericarp, and central core for 23, 33 and 111 days, respectively. The fruit growth curve was double sigmoid owing to an initial period of cell enlargement in all tissues (Stage I, 0–58 day!) followed by a period of retarded enlargement (Stage II, 58–76 days) and a further period of enlargement in the inner pericarp (Stage III, 76–160 days after flowering). The structure of the seed was unusual in that the nucellus possessed a well defined hypostase, and the endosperm and embryo were surrounded by an endothelium. Only one, uniseriate, integument was present which subsequently developed into a thickened tests. The cellular nucellus and endosperm developed concomitantly until the end of Stage II and were absorbed, in part, during Stages II and III by the developing embryo.