A DWARF PERSIMMON CULTIVAR, 'NANTONG-XIAOFANGSHI'

‘Nantong-xiaofangshi’ persimmon is a rare dwarf cultivar found in Nantong during “the Fruit Tree Resources Survey of Jiangsu Province” in 1982. In this paper the botanical features and biological characteristics are summarized based on the investigation. The results demonstrate that ‘Nantong-xiaofangshi’ has no obvious main trunk, and central leader is weak. The trees are spreading, and show the significant dwarfness character. The height of the adult tree is only about 2 m, which is approximately equal to 60% that of the standard-type growing under the same conditions. ‘Nantong-xiaofangshi’ starts to bear in the following year after planting and comes into the full bearing period when 5 years old. The average yield of the 10-year-old tree is 42 t/hm² and it can continue producing commercial crops for a further 30 years. Associating with high and stable yield, its alternate bearing is not obvious. Flower-formation is easy, and the bearing branch ratio is up to 65.6%. As well as having strong resistance to cold, drought, flood and barren, it has wide adaptability so as to grow well in sand, loam, coastal saline soil. The fruit shape is square-oblate with orange-red and thin skin. The average fruit weight is 123.9 g. Fruit is seedless or has few seeds occasionally, easy to deastringency. Flesh is juicy, melting, and sweet with 17.9% soluble solids content. Moreover, it is not susceptible to insect damage and has strong resistance to angular leaf spot, so its introduction and cultivation are more likely to succeed.