First mediterranean symposium on persimmon (Options méditerranéennes série A Etudes et recherches N° 51)

The Mediterranean area is one of the most important centres of fruit production, not only because of the surface area planted and the quantities produced, but also because of the high diversification and of the valuable quality of the product. The environmental conditions allow diversification, a sound aspect of Mediterranean fruit culture, since many native and allochthonous fruit tree species (from peach to grape, among the major species, from fig to pomegranate, from quince to chesnut, from the jujube tree to the carob tree, among minor species) are easily grown. Diversification and quality were also enhanced by the tradition of the Mediterranean people, who for centuries have wisely passed on the technical knowledge of horticulture, the deep-rooted eating customs, and last but not least the most precious resource for fruit production : germplasm. Over the last few years, various research teams of the Mediterranean area have focused their attention on under-utilised fruit species. Persimmon, an allochthonous species that has already been incorporated into the context of fruit culture of some Mediterranean countries (namely Italy and Spain) and is already naturalised in some Mediterranean areas, is one of the species experiencing renewed interest world-wide.