Kaki: a little-known fruit

The khaki (diospyrus khaki. L.), belongs to the genus Diospyrus along with other species that stand out as the most important, D. Kaki, D. Lotus, and D. Virginiana. Of these, the first produces edible fruits and is grown for that purpose; change in the other two are used as grafts carries.

The cultivation of this fruit species found in temperate zones, where the effects of low winter temperatures are scarce and in climates with sufficient rainfall annually.

The Mediterranean coastal zone, for example, is very common for such cultivation. For their adaptation to warmer conditions, also grown in the American continent, especially in countries of sub-tropical climate. But the true origin of Kaki, is in China and Japan.

The main growing areas in the Mediterranean basin, are Italy and Spain. In regions of warm weather, the fruits are affected by the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata W), one of the main guests, as the colorful fruit, the insect is drawn entirely in their adult state.

Consumption of this fruit is usually low in most European countries. The low ease of transport in a fruit with skin sensitive and responsive to agents saprophytes, have led to a shortage in the spread of cultivation, we recall that saprophytes, fungi are not parasites but deteriorate in some cases bodies of silver. The boom in fruit products with the generic name of "tropical" and ease of adequate means of transport, have provided a certain interest in khaki.