ABSTRACT
The oriental persimmon, Diospyros kaki Thunb., belonging to the Ebenaceae family, is an important fruit tree in certain countries. The genus Diospyros contains more than 250 species, some of which are evergreen — like D. ebeneaster — and some deciduous — like D. kaki, D. lotus, and D. virginiana. The most important species grown for its fruit is D. kaki (the Japanese or Oriental persimmon), which produces a large (up to 450 g), sweet orange fruit. Other species are grown mainly for other purposes: D. lotus as a rootstock for D. kaki and for tannin production, D. virginiana as a rootstock, D. oleífera and D. morrisiana for tannin production, and D. discolor for timber.
