The Persimmon Genome (eBook)

This book will expound the latest information on the current state of persimmon genomics and transcriptomics, with a particular focus on the latest findings and analysis in relation to the most important agronomic traits. The genus Diospyros contains about 400 species distributed all continents of the globe. Most of Diospyros species are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions, while cultivated persimmon or simply kaki (Diospyros kaki) originates in East Asia and has been grown in China, Japan and Korea for many years. World production of persimmon has been increasing continuously since 1990s, with China being the most producer. Outside Asia, kaki production has been rapidly increasing in Spain in recent years. Because kaki is mostly hexaploid (2n = 6x =90) and its genome size is quite large with the flow cytometric analysis estimation of about 900 Mb, genetic and molecular studies in persimmon are quite complicated. Diploid close relatives of kaki, D. lotus and D. oleifera have been recently used as model species of kaki. Utilizing these species, molecular basis of several economically molecular basis of important traits such as sexuality and astringency has been studied, giving important information for kaki breeding.

Prof. Ryutaro Tao is a molecular geneticist in the area of fruit tree science. He has been a professor of Kyoto University since 1988. Prof. Tao's research career was started when he started his graduation thesis study on the development of tissue and cell culture system for persimmon (Diospyros kaki) in 1983 at Kyoto University. Since then, he has been working on persimmons. He has been also working on the reproduction biology of fruit tree species in Diospyros and the Rosaceae, utilizing molecular, genetic, and genomic techniques. He has been extensively working on the sexual system in Diospyros and Actinidia for the last 10 years.