Defruiting effect of young Fuyu persimmon (Diospyros kaki) on assimilate partitioning in-season and early growth the next season

Changes in the distribution of dry matter and nonstructural carbohydrates in various parts of young ‘Fuyu’ persimmon (Diospyros kaki) were examined with 3- and 4-year-old trees with (fruited) and without fruits (defruited). The effect of such changes was then monitored with regard to the magnitude of new growth the following year. From June 15 to November 1, fruiting significantly decreased the rate of dry weight accumulation in perennial parts of the tree. Dry matter was partitioned the most to fruits (68–72%) and the least to the roots. Of the total dry weight, root accounted for 8–27% in fruited and 58–62% in defruited trees. During this period, soluble sugars were three times more in fruited than in defruited trees, but more than 95% of sugars were in the fruits. Starch content increased in defruited trees, more than 93% of which being distributed to the perennial parts. Compared with fruited trees, defruiting in the previous year increased new shoot growth and the number of fruits the following year, with a 20–58% greater increase in dry matter. During the new growth from April 10 to June 10 the following year, root dry weight decreased by 30–32% in defruited trees, whereas it increased by 20–80% in the fruited ones. Soluble sugars in roots decreased by 8.8–19.7 g in defruited trees but increased by 9.7–12.3 g in fruited ones. Starch in roots decreased by 68–75.1 g in defruited trees but increased by 10.2–13.3 g in fruited ones. However, there were no significant differences in soluble sugars and starch in the newly grown parts. It was estimated that a 1-g difference in dry matter accumulated in the previous season resulted in a 116-mg and 256-mg difference in dry weight of newly grown parts, and a 6.5-mm and 17.5-mm new shoot in the following season for 3- and 4-year-old trees, respectively.