Improving the storage of 'Hortgem Tahi' kiwiberry fruit

'Hortgem Tahi' is a proprietary cultivar of Actinidia arguta (kiwiberry) bred by Plant & Food Research. As with all kiwiberry fruit, storage life is limited by rapid softening and a risk of shrivel in drying conditions. Technologies commonly used to slow ripening for kiwifruit and other crops include controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage and treatment with the ethylene action inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1‑MCP; SmartFresh™). These methods of slowing fruit softening (ripening) in storage were investigated for their impact on 'Hortgem Tahi' kiwiberry. Both CA (2 or 5% O₂ with 5 or 10% CO₂) and SmartFresh™ 1-MCP (625 ppb) treatments were found to retard the softening of 'Hortgem Tahi'kiwiberry significantly.