Chromosome Numbers of Diospyros kaki Cultivars

Abstract

The chromosome numbers in 18 cultivars and 94 open-pollinated progenies from 14 Cultivars of D. kaki were investigated by the method of enzymatic maceration or squash method, using shoot apical meristem tissue and root tips. The improved techniques made chromosomes able to be well-counted, especially when treated by enzymatic maceration. Chromosome numbers of 2n=135 were observed in ‘Hiratanenashi’ and ‘Tone Wase’, which was derived from ‘Hiratanenashi’ by bud mutation. As had already been reported, the basic chromosome number of Diospyros plants is 15, so these cultivars would be 2n=9x, and it suggested that polyploidy had occurred in D. kaki. However, no change was recognized in chromosme numbers of the other 16 cultivars and 94 open-pollinated progenies from 14 cultivars.