ABSTRACT
Persimmons belong to the genus Diospyros. These are fairly common trees in warm regions of the world, mainly in Asia and South America, where nearly 190 species are known. Only four species have been used commercially for the production of fruit. They are D. kaki L., D. lotus L., D. virginiana L., and D. Oleifera Cheng. Among them, D. kaki L. is known as the Japanese persimmon or “kaki", and is the most important species. There are numerous horticultural varieties, approximately up to 1000, and they are considered native of Japan. However, Ikegami 1 suggests that it was introduced from China during the Nara era (710 to 794 A.D.).
