A newly released research note by Italian agronomist Dr. Ottavio Cacioppo offers valuable insights into the latest developments in the cultivation of Supplì kiwis. This green-fleshed variety continues to demonstrate exceptional performance in the fruit and vegetable sector.

The cultivar’s origin and characteristics
The Supplì kiwi was developed by Claudio Tonini in Latina Scalo in 1987 from the seed of the New Zealand cultivar Bruno. To support and monitor the cultivation of this promising variety, Tonini enlisted Dr. Cacioppo’s technical expertise.

© Ottavio CacioppoClaudio Tonini

“I suggested the name Supplì for this new variety,” explained agronomist Ottavio Cacioppo. “There are two reasons for this. First, the shape of the fruit is very reminiscent of the popular rotisserie dish, with its emerald-green flesh. Second, there’s a health-related issue. Unlike some kiwi varieties, which can trigger allergic reactions in people with ear, nose, and throat conditions, the Supplì kiwi appears to be completely harmless.”

The timeline: From early testing to the field
The development of the cultivar gained significant momentum in February 2025. During this period, a targeted expansion plan involving the planting of around 50 grafted plants was implemented. The goal of this phase was to test the plants’ response on a larger scale under open-field conditions by monitoring their establishment, vegetative vigor, and time to enter production.

Exceptional results: Fruit production one year after grafting
Unlike traditional kiwi production patterns, which require more time for the plant to become established and produce high-quality yields, the current season produced exceptional results just twelve months after grafting.

© Ottavio CacioppoFruit

“The plant’s extraordinary productivity is astonishing technicians and industry professionals,” says Dr. Cacioppo. “We recorded excellent and abundant production as early as the first year after grafting, which is an exceptional achievement for our sector.”

© Ottavio CacioppoSurveys conducted in Claudio Tonini’s orchard have highlighted three areas of excellence in particular.

• Early Fruiting: This variety has demonstrated its ability to develop fertile and efficient flower buds on first-year wood (see the picture on the side).
• Balanced Vigor: It shows marked vegetative growth that does not interfere with fruit set, while maintaining a perfect physiological balance between foliage and fruit development.
• Uniformity and Abundance: The fruit is densely and evenly distributed over the vines, meeting the highest market standards.

Agronomic strengths
This remarkable early ripening is complemented by the variety’s robust genetic background. Ever since Tonini’s initial selections, the Supplì kiwi has been the subject of great interest due to this background.

Indeed, the Supplì kiwi demonstrates remarkable resilience to plant health issues. It tolerates the main root and bacterial diseases, including the well-known bacterial blight, and shows excellent adaptability to the stresses caused by summer heat.

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