Actinidia Indica: Wild Kiwi Discovered: UPSC Current Affairs

Description

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Picture Courtesy: NORTHEASTTODAY

Why In News?

Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have discovered “Actinidia indica” a new species of wild kiwi in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. Named

About the Actinidia indica

Taxonomy: It belongs to the family Actinidiaceae and the genus Actinidia (the same genus as the commercially popular Kiwi fruit).

Location: The species was found in the forests near the Ziro Valley, at an elevation of approximately 1,725 meters.

Habitat: It grows in the transition zone between temperate and subtropical forests, specifically growing along forest edges in dense vegetation.

Key Physical Characteristics

Type: A perennial climbing shrub (vine).
Height: Grows up to 2–4 meters.
Appearance: Characterized by densely hairy young branches and large ovate leaves.
Flowers: Produces prominent white to creamy flowers (4–6 cm), which are larger than many other related species.
Fruit: The fruit is globose (round) and olive-green.
Unique Identifier: The most distinct feature distinguishing it from other species is the reticulate (net-like) pattern of lenticels on the fruit's surface.

Arunachal Pradesh and the "Kiwi" Connection

"Fruit Bowl of India": The state is the top producer of Kiwis in India (accounting for >50% of production).

Ziro Valley: The region where Actinidia indica was found is also famous for the "Ziro Kiwi," which was the first organic kiwi in India to receive Organic Certification.

Source: NORTHEASTTODAY

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Actinidia indica:

1. It is a newly discovered wild kiwi species endemic to the Western Ghats.

2. It was recently discovered by researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Actinidia indica is a newly discovered wild kiwi species, but it is endemic to the Eastern Himalayas, specifically found in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.

Statement 2 is correct: The species was indeed discovered and described by researchers from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) during recent floral expeditions in the North-Eastern region of India.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Actinidia indica is a newly discovered species of wild kiwi. It was recently identified by scientists, pushing the global count of known Actinidia species to 56 and highlighting India's rich floral diversity.

It was discovered in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, near the Ziro Valley, at an elevation of 1,725 meters. This area falls under the biologically diverse transition zone of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot.

Arunachal Pradesh is the largest producer of kiwi in India, accounting for over 50% of the country's total output, with annual production exceeding 7,000 metric tonnes. Known as India's kiwi capital, the state is particularly famed for its high-quality organic kiwi production, largely concentrated in the Ziro Valley