The genus Diospyros, encompassing approximately 500 species, is predominantly pantropical with most species being evergreen trees and shrubs, while a few temperate species are deciduous. Diospyros is renowned for its edible fruits (commonly known as persimmons, specifically D. kaki), valuable black wood (notably from D. ebenum), and ornamental species. The fruit of the genus is notable for its accumulation of high proanthocyanidins (PAs), which induce a strong astringency. In this paper, we present an allele-aware, chromosome-level genome assembly for three species with varying ploidy levels: D. sp. Yemaoshi (2n = 2x = 30), D. rhombifolia (2n = 4x = 60), and D. kaki (2n = 6x = 90). Utilizing HiFi sequencing technology, we assembled 60 and 90 pseudo-chromosomes for D. sp. Yemaoshi and D. kaki. each comprising 4 and 6 homologous groups of 15 chromosomes, respectively, and identified 10,315 and 14,343 genes, including their allelic variations. Our analysis revealed a significant expansion of the CHS gene families in Diospyros species, potentially explaining their high PA content. Genome evolution studies indicate that Madagascar is a hotspot for Diospyros distribution, followed by Borneo, while the middle reaches of the Yellow River could be the diversity center for D. kaki. We hypothesize that the ancestors of cultivated persimmons migrated from Southeast Asia into China, undergoing genome duplication to form the hexaploid cultivated persimmons that subsequently spread from China to other regions. These Diospyros genomes provide valuable insights for the genetic improvement of persimmons. This research was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2019YFD1000600).
Wenxing Chen won the ISHS Young Minds Award for the best oral presentation at the VIII International Symposium on Persimmon in China in October 2024.
Wenxing Chen, National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China, e-mail: chenwenxing@mail.hzau.edu.cn
The article is available in Chronica Horticulturae