Net photosynthetic rate, adaptation, compensating and saturating irradiances, mitochondrial respiration rate in the dark, photo‐respiration rate, CO2‐compensation concentration, assimilation number, and quantum yield were evaluated on both male and female kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa(A. Chev) C.F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson) leaves. Specific leaf mass, specific leaf area, and chlorophyll content were also estimated. Statistically higher values of the net photosynthetic rate, saturating irradiance, and photosynthetic productivity were observed in the leaves of generative shoots of the female plants.