Diospyros: not only delicious fruit

Jakub Abelard Pospíšil

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

The genus Diospyros, commonly known as Persimmon, belongs to the family Ebenaceae, whose most important species today are native to Asia and America. Diospyros is a subtropical tree that is cultivated not only for its tasty fruit but also for other special uses, such as in the medicinal and woodworking industries, and in the traditional cultural production of various special products that are typical of their countries or regions of origin. Today, the fruit of this tree is available in markets all over the world. The aim of this work was to summarize and evaluate information on the Diospyros genus, its distribution, cultivation and, above all, its use and importance for society. The fruits of this genus are considered very suitable for consumption and have many positive effects on the consumer because they contain a large amount of minerals and other important components that are very beneficial to the body. Diospyros kaki is the species most commonly cultivated for its fruits, but there are other species that have edible fruits and their use is wider. Many Diospyros species provide a variety of valuable commodities for the timber industry and help trade in more remote areas of the world. In addition, the wood of the Diospyros genus is highly valued for its beautiful grain and very characteristic colour, most often in the species D. ebenum. However, there are also rare species, such as D. crassiflora or D. celebica, which have very high quality wood but also have health-promoting bioactive substances that are used in traditional and modern medicine. Another interesting use is the use of different parts of the plant for medicinal processing, such as the roots, bark, leaves or the flowers themselves. This genus has several uses which makes economic benefits for the areas where it is grown and where the products of this tree are processed and exported.

Keywords

Diospyros, Ebenacea, Ebony trees, Kaki, Persimmon

Jazyk práce: English

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 16. 4. 2023

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 26. 5. 2023
• Vedúci: Ing. Johana Rondevaldová, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Markéta Houdková, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
Tropical Agriculture