O Kiwi, also called kiwi, it is a fruit that has a brown and velvety skin, and may have a green or yellow pulp depending on the species. Features a series of important nutritional properties, standing out for being a fruit with a lot of vitamin C.
the kiwi is originating from China, where is known by the name of minotao. This plant was sent to other parts of the world, until it arrived in New Zealand, where it received the name of kiwi, due to its resemblance to the bird Kiwi, the country's symbol bird, which is characterized by having a brownish down that resembles the fruit. In Brazil, the species was introduced in 1971, however a large part of the kiwi sold in the national territory comes from imports. The main kiwi cultivars produced in Brazilian soil are Bruno, Monty, Abbott and Haywar.
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Botanical characteristics of the kiwi tree
The kiwi tree is a plant belonging to the Actinidiaceae family and gender actinide. The species that has the greatest importance in the market is the
delicious actinidia and this is the species that will be described next.. THE plant has climbing habit and, when adult, the stems become woody and resistant. Its roots have a tendency to spread over the soil surface. The kiw tree leaves are dark green on the upper side and light green with brown tones on the underside.
The flowers have both sexes, but the plants behave as dioecious, it being observed that the male plants have flowers with atrophy of the ovaries, and female plants produce pollen sterile. You kiwi fruit are of the berry type and have an elongated, ovoid or spherical shape. The color of the fruit is brown and its surface is full of brown hair.
The seeds are small, black and are arranged radially in the green flesh of the fruit. It is worth noting that the green pulp is characteristic of the species delicious actinidia, yellow pulp being observed in the species Actinidia chinensis. In addition to being differentiated by the color of the pulp, this last species is also less acidic than the Delicious actinidia.
Kiwi Properties
the kiwi presents a series of compounds beneficial to human health. The fruit is rich in sugars, organic acids, fibers, mineral salts, like potassium, calcium,magnesium, iron and zinc, and vitamins, such as vitamin A, C and AND.
Due to the presence of fibers, the fruit stands out for acting as a great regulator of intestinal function. With regard to vitamins, kiwi fruit stands out for its large amount of vitamin C, twice as much as that presented by oranges. Vitamin C has a number of benefits to the body, being important in processes such as the synthesis of collagen, iron absorption by the body, maintenance of the integrity of blood vessels, in addition to being a antioxidant.
In addition to vitamin C, kiwi fruit has other antioxidant compounds, which act to prevent cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer. In addition to its bioactive components, the kiwi stands out for being a low-calorie fruit.
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How to consume kiwi fruit?
To better take advantage of the various nutritional properties of kiwi fruit, it is recommended that it be consumed in nature, right after being peeled. The fruit has a creamy consistency and its flavor is sweet and sour. It is a refreshing fruit. It is noteworthy that, due to its vibrant color, the fruit in nature it is also widely used as a decoration in cooking.
in addition to being consumed in nature, kiwi fruit can also be used in the production of other products, such as pulp, ice cream, jellies, jams and liqueurs. As it is very perishable, the production of these products is important to avoid major economic losses. It is noteworthy that the kiwi fruit can also be frozen for later use., which guarantees a longer shelf life.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher