Breeding report of a new Actinidia arguta cultivar Ruan Fengxiang

Ruan Fengxiang is an excellent cultivar selected and bred from the wild Actinidia arguta resources in Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, Dandong City. In May 2016, A. arguta seedlings were used as rootstocks for grafting, with a grafting area of 0.67 hectares. It started to bear fruits in the second year after grafting, and there was a continuous high yield from 2019 to 2022. In July 2025, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration issued the plant new variety certificate and named it Ruan Fengxiang. The annual branches are grayish- brown, the leaf is ovate and the fruit is cylindrical with a slightly protruding top. The peel and flesh are green, while the core is white, and the fruit has a rich aroma after softening. The average weight of a single fruit is 15.6 g. The vitamin C content is 273 mg · 100 g-1 with a vertical diameter of 42.1 mm and a horizontal diameter of 27.6 mm, and the soluble solids content is 23.2%. The shelf life is 10 days at room temperature, and it can be stored for 60 days at (1.0±0.5) ℃. In the Kuandian area, it sprouts in late April, blossoms and bears fruit in early June, the fruit ripens in early October, and harvesting begins when the soluble solids content reaches 7%. Leaves fall in late October and the entire growth period lasts for 180 days. It is a late-maturing cultivar, and in the fourth year, all of them bore fruits. In the fifth year, it entered the peak fruiting period, and the yield during the peak fruiting period was 30 000 kg·hm-2 . It has strong adaptability. Generally, it can be cultivated in areas with an annual average temperature above 7 ℃, an annual rainfall of over 700 mm, loose and fertile soil with good air permeability, a pH value of 5.5 to 6.8, and good drainage. The tree shape is preferably a single trunk with two branches in a feather-like pattern. The trunk height should be 1.8 meters to 2.2 meters. The plant spacing is 2 meters by 4 meters. The ratio of female to male plants is 8∶1. All of the following structures can be used: trellis, T-shaped frame, or fence frame. Young trees of 1 to 2 years old need overwintering protection. When pruning in winter, long and vigorous fruiting mother branches should be pruned lightly with more buds left, while short and weak ones should be pruned more heavily with fewer buds left. Summer pruning mainly involves thinning out overgrown branches and weak branches. Priority should be given to the use of biological and physical control methods for the prevention and control of diseases and pests, mainly including manual killing, luring and killing by taking advantage of the attraction of pests, and protecting and utilizing natural enemies. During the dormant period, the measures such as applying 3 to 5 °Be lime sulfur solution to paint the wounds and whitewashing the main trunk for protection, can be taken to prevent bacterial infection. Every year, base fertilizer is applied after harvest, and about 40 kg of compost of decomposed crops is applied to each plant. It is suitable for promotion and cultivation in the main production areas of A. arguta such as Liaoning Province and similar climate regions.