The I.V.I.A. germplasm collection of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.)

Abstract

The germplasm collection of persimmon located at IVIA includes 93 accessions. They come from local surveys carried out in European Mediterranean countries plus introduced cultivars from those countries where genetic resources of persimmon are available. Most of the accessions introduced come from the National Persimmon Genebank of Japan. The task of the germplasm collection is to conserve and characterize all the accessions as well as to provide information useful for persimmon breeders, technicians or growers. Studies of this collection included analysis of pomological characters related to the tree, leaves and fruits along with phenological and molecular marker data. A summary of data from a set of collection accessions is presented in this report. The main traits reported included flowering, ripening and pomological traits. Sugar, acidity, shape, firmness, yield and astringency descriptions are described. The most important cultivar grown in Spain, 'Rojo Brillante', is used as a reference cultivar. Results indicated that the flowering period is narrow. Most of the accessions flower in May, however the range of ripening is wider, from 'Agakaki', an earlier variety, ripening in September to 'Edoichi', a variety from Italy that ripens at the beginning of December. Diversity in the collection is being increased by means of new introductions, mainly nonastringent varieties from Japan.