Diospyros lotus L. 'Emperor Bean', Poster Board #271

Diospyros lotus L. (lilac persimmon) is a small deciduous tree in Ebenaceae and wildly distributed in subtropical China. Its fruit (small persimmon) is not welcome because of loaded seeds and only 20% of its fresh fruit is edible. The plant has been used as a rootstock for fruit persimmon production. Researchers have explored and selected seedless lilac persimmon since 2000 and one new cultivar is produced and named Diospyros lotus ‘Emperor Bean’. The plant originated from Xinan County of Henan Province in China and 100% seedless fruits were harvested in the last five years. The new cultivar has an open canopy and vigorous growth. Fruits could be produced in the second year after grafting and peak fruiting period starts at its fifth year. The fruit is almost ball-shape with diameter around 2.1 cm. Mean individual fruit weighted 6.6 g and the highest one 7.3 g. Each plant yielded 20.5 kg with the highest at 27.5 kg in six years after grafting. ‘Emperor Bean’ could be cultivated under the wide variety of soils. It is drought tolerant and no winter damage had been observed at –17 °C (USDA Zone 6). In the fall, the loaded yellowish orange fruits against green leaves are very attractive. The new cultivar has the great market potential and could be grown as an ornamental and/or fresh and dry persimmon fruit plant.