USING CORRELATIVE MICROSCOPY AND X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY TO CHARACTERISE IMPERFECTIONS OBSERVED IN SOUTH AFRICAN PERSIMMON

摘要

Diospyros kaki (cultivar (cv.) Triumph) persimmon fruit trees were first planted in South Africa in 1998, with the aim to supplement volumes grown during the counter season in the Northern Hemisphere. The challenges of finding the perfect region in South Africa to meet the climatic requirements to grow the exotic fruit took well over a decade. Eventually, the Overberg region in the Western Cape was found to be ideally suited. Consequently, production has flourished in the region and a lucrative export opportunity has resulted. The subsequent rigorous export protocols and aesthetics standards demanded by international markets, has initiated an investigation of dark spots identified within the flesh of this new South African-grown persimmon fruit.