Non-astringent persimmon has been identified by Vietnamese Government and MARD as a new commercial crop for Vietnam. This project is enhancing the productivity, yield and fruit quality of persimmon in Vietnam by changing from the traditional astringent varieties to new non-astringent varieties that can be grown using low-cost, best orchard management practices. The astringent persimmon varieties "Thach Thai" ("Yem Thon" or "Hoan Muoi") and "Hong Tam" ("Nhanh Ham") are presently grown by Vietnamese farmers in mixed tree crop orchards. These farmers achieve yields of about one third of that of the Australian persimmon farmers, 25-35 tonnes per hectare. Also, many Vietnamese farmers do not know how determine when astringent persimmon fruit are at the eating ripe stage or how to remove astringency from the fruit. Many Vietnamese farmers try to sell fruit that are too soft for transport to market, or have high levels of astringency.
Establishment of demonstration orchards
To enable new technologies for growing persimmons reach Vietnamese farmers, four demonstration orchards have been set up on selected farmers properties and two research stations. Top-working of traditional astringent persimmon trees to new non-astringent varieties has been carried out. These non-astringent varieties can be eaten when hard and will carry to market whilst still in a firm state. Budwood of "Fuyu" and "Jiro" was collected in July and in September from high quality sources in Australia, prepared and exported to Vietnam for the top-working trees.
Demonstration orchards have been set up at; Mai Son and Moc Chau, in Son La Province, Da Bac and Cao Phong in Hoa Binh Province and at Bac Ha in Lao Cai Province and Luc Ngan in Bac Gian Province in Northern Vietnam. In Australia, a new demonstration persimmon orchard was set up at Maroochy Research Station using best practice methods. Trees were planted on a new trellis system using new planting techniques to reduce establishment shock syndrome.
Collection and evaluation of rootstocks
At a nursery at Trang Viet Commune, Me Linh District, Vin Phuc Province, 15 rootstock lines from Vietnam and one line from Taiwan and Thailand were being prepared for evaluation to find the most suitable rootstock for Vietnam soils and growing conditions. About 26 seedlings of each line were grafted, but unfortunately severe flooding occurred in Hanoi and surrounding Provinces from the 30th October to 3rd December. The nursery and rootstocks were under water for 3 days and most of the grafted seedling rootstocks died. This material was re-collected from within Vietnam and Taiwan. The surviving rootstocks from the first collection and the 20 recollected rootstock lines were transferred to a new nursery located at the Phuong Huyen Plant Variety Company in Hoa Binh Province of Northern Vietnam to avoid risk of flooding and seed sent to Australia.
At Maroochy Research Station, 12 different persimmon rootstock types from Australia and one collected and imported from Thailand (1017 seedlings in total) are currently growing at Maroochy Research Station. The rootstock collected from Thailand has been reported to be drought resistant. Theses seedlings are being prepared for salinity and water logging trials and grafted with "Fuyu" and "Jiro" scions for nutritional trials.
Development of integrated pest and disease management (IP&DM) and good agricultural practices (GAP)
About 10 major insect pests have been identified in Vietnam with leaf eating beetles and clearwing moth serious pests from April to October. In Australia, an extensive study of clearwing moth has been carried out. Findings show clearwing moths are highly attracted to varieties "Izu" and "Fuyu" and to a lesser extent "Jiro". Larva under the bark are almost impossible to control, therefore it will be essential to kill moths during peak flight activity. No method will give 100% control of clearwing moths; therefore a combination of methods will be necessary. Careful monitoring combined with mating disruption and critical timing of insecticide applications and the use of netting will give a high degree of control.
New technologies transfer
In Vietnam, 14 training courses on new top-working and orchard management techniques have been conducted at 5 locations, Mai Son and Moc Chau, Da Bac. Luc Ngan and Bac Ha in Northern Vietnam. A total of 250 farmers were in attendance and all were very happy with the new top-working techniques to improve quality of persimmon through introduction of new non-astringent varieties. Many farmers in Mai Son and Moc Chau districts in the Son La Province, Da Bac in Hoa Binh Province are cutting down their astringent persimmon trees and top-working to the new non-astringent persimmon varieties.

The Vietnamese Government and MARD are placing even greater emphasis on then new non-astringent persimmon varieties, "Fuyu" and "Jiro" as an alternative to the traditional Vietnamese astringent persimmon varieties. Vietnamese farmers receive on average returns of 2,000 VND (AUD$0.11 per kg) and for high quality fruit 5,000 to 6,000 VND per kg for traditional astringent persimmon varieties. About 8,000 VND per kg was paid for high-quality seedless astringent persimmon. It is estimated that new non-astringent high quality persimmon varieties "Fuyu" and "Jiro" will be sold at the same price or higher. Currently "Fuyu" persimmon imported from China ranges from 18,000-22,000 VND per kg. Yields are about one third of that of the Australian non-astringent persimmon farmers (25 to 30 tonnes per hectare). Many Vietnamese farmers try to sell fruit that are too soft for transport to market, or have high levels of astringency. This project is enhancing the productivity, yield and the fruit quality aspects of persimmon in Vietnam by changing from the traditional astringent varieties to new non-astringent varieties using appropriate farmer development practices based on low-level technologies, best orchard management practices and new handling systems.
Establishment of demonstration orchards
The non-astringent varieties "Fuyu" and "Jiro" can be eaten when hard and will carry to market whilst still in a firm state. Budwood of these non-astringent varieties was collected in Australia and exported to Vietnam for the top-working trees, which has been completed in six locations. These trees are now producing significant quantities of budwood for the Vietnamese collaborators to set up large demonstration trial bocks for the ethnic minority farmers in northern Vietnam. This will ensure new technologies for growing persimmons reach as many ethnic minority groups growing persimmon in Vietnam. Initially, four demonstration orchards were set up on selected farmers properties and two research stations. This has been expanded to six demonstration sites with more than 300 top-worked trees. Demonstration orchards are now located at; Muong Hong and Moc Chau districts, in Son La Province, Da Bac and Cao Phong districts in Hoa Binh Province and Bac Ha district in Lao Cai Province and Luc Ngan district in Bac Gian Province in Northern Vietnam. In Australia, a new demonstration persimmon orchard was set up at Maroochy Research Station using best practice methods.
Collection and evaluation of rootstocks
The nursery at Phuong Huyen Plant Variety Company in Hoa Binh Province of Northern Vietnam has over 1,000 trees of 21 persimmon rootstock types collected from northern and southern Vietnam. Over 700 of the rootstock trees have been grafted to "Fuyu" and "Jiro" for planting in trials and demonstration blocks. Eight rootstock lines exhibit good vegetative growth and six lines showing poor vegetative growth in the Vietnamese soil types of Hoa Binh Province. At Maroochy Research Station, 12 different persimmon rootstock types from Australia and one collected and imported from Thailand (1017 seedlings in total) are currently under evaluation. The rootstock collected from Thailand has been reported to be drought resistant. Water-logging trials conducted showed one rootstock line in Australia that has resistance to the effects of water-logging.
Development of integrated pest and disease management (IP&DM) and good agricultural practices (GAP)
About 10 major economic and more than 12 minor economic insect pests have been identified in Vietnam with fruit fly the major pest during the fruiting season and leaf eating beetles and clearwing moth (Order Lepidoptera: Family Sesiidae) serious pests from April to October. The extensive study in Australia on clearwing moth showed no methods will give 100% control of clearwing moths; therefore a combination of methods will be necessary. Careful monitoring combined with mating disruption and critical timing of insecticide applications and the use of netting will give a high degree of control.
Postharvest handling of persimmon in Vietnam and Australia
Determining the best method to remove astringency from the traditional Vietnamese varieties was undertaken. Methods trailed included dipping, soaking, in various solutions of ethrel, lime, alum, exposure to gasses of CO2 and ethanol. Findings show the traditional Vietnamese varieties "Nhan Hau" and "Thach That" were stimulated to ripen by ethrel but carbon dioxide and ethanol did not ripen the fruit. (Appendix A)
New technologies transfer
In Vietnam, 15 training courses conducted by the Vietnamese collaborators on new top-working and orchard management techniques have been conducted at 8 locations, Mai Son and Moc Chau, Da Bac. Luc Ngan and Bac Ha in Northern Vietnam. More than 550 farmers attended. Farmers are eager to learn the new top-working techniques to improve quality of persimmon through introduction of new non-astringent varieties. Now, more farmers in Mai Son and Moc Chau districts in the Son La Province, Da Bac in Hoa Binh Province are cutting down their astringent persimmon trees and top-working to the new non-astringent persimmon varieties.

The Vietnamese Government and MARD are placing even greater emphasis on developing new sustainable crops for the ethnic minority groups in the north-west region of Vietnam. The new non-astringent persimmon varieties, "Fuyu" and "Jiro" are an alternative to the traditional Vietnamese astringent persimmon varieties in this region. The non-astringent varieties "Fuyu" and "Jiro" can be eaten when hard and will carry to market whilst still in a firm state. In 2010, Vietnamese farmers received on average 2,000 to 500 VND (AUD $0.09 - $0.02) per kg for traditional astringent persimmons. This is due to poor quality fruit and a decreasing consumer market demand for traditional astringent varieties. Yields for traditional varieties are about one third of that of the Australian non- astringent persimmon farmers and are decreasing significantly due to fewer inputs by Vietnamese farmers. This project is enhancing the productivity, yield and the fruit quality aspects of persimmon in Vietnam by changing from the traditional astringent varieties to new non-astringent varieties using appropriate farmer business development practices based on low-level technologies, best orchard management practices and new production systems. These new non-astringent varieties have been established in northwest Vietnam on framers properties. Farmers are now harvesting fruit from these new non-astringent varieties and marketed the fruit for an average price of 26,000 VND (AUD $1.18) per kg. The fruiting ability and market acceptance of these new non-astringent persimmon varieties has significantly improved the ethnic-minority farmer's ability to grown and deliver to market a product which is highly acceptable to the Vietnamese consumer's requirements.
Demonstration orchards established
Budwood of these non-astringent varieties has been exported from Australia to Vietnam. Demonstration orchards are now located at; Muong Hong and Moc Chau districts, in Son La Province, Da Bac and Cao Phong districts in Hoa Binh Province and Bac Ha district in Lao Cai Province and Luc Ngan district in Bac Gian Province in Northern Vietnam. Trees in ethnic minority farmer orchards are being progressively top-worked to these new non-astringent varieties without affecting the farmer's income. Over 300 top worked trees are now producing significant quantities of budwood and fruit for ethnic minority farmers. These demonstrations will ensure new technologies for growing persimmons will reach many of the ethnic minority groups in this region of Vietnam.
Rootstock Evaluations
Over 21 persimmon rootstock types collected from northern and southern Vietnam are still under evaluation. Over 700 of the rootstock trees have been grafter to "Fuyu" and "Jiro" for planting in trials and demonstration blocks. Eight rootstock lines exhibit good vegetative growth and six lines showing poor vegetative growth in the Vietnamese soil types of Son La and Hoa Binh Province. At the Maroochy Research Facility, the rootstock collected from Thailand has greater drought and salinity resistance. Water-logging trials conducted showed one rootstock line in Australia is resistant to the effects of water-logging.
Development of integrated pest and disease management (IP&DM) and good agricultural practices (GAP)
About 12 major economic and more than 12 minor economic insect pests have been identified in Vietnam. Fruit fly is the major pest during the fruiting season and leaf eating beetles and clearwing moth serious pests from April to October. IPM and IDM manuals are now being developed for Vietnam and Australia by the ACIAR project team.
Postharvest handling of persimmon in Vietnam
Maturity indices for the non-astringent cultivar "Fuyu" have been completed. Fruit should be harvested 90-98 days after fruit set with a background colour of 1.7 -2.9 green yellow colour. Studies on storage in Vietnam found "Fuyu" can be stored for 9 weeks whilst "Jiro" can be stored for 7-8 weeks at 1oC. The local traditional "Nhan Hau" variety can be stored for up to 4 weeks at ambient temperature in PE bag with 6 holes of 1 mm in diameter.
New technologies transfer
During 2010 a further 18 farmer training courses were conducted by the Vietnamese collaborators in Mai Son, Moc Chau - Son La Province ,Da Bac, Hoa Binh Province, Luc Ngan, Bac Giang Province and Bac Ha, Lao Cai Province. A total of 540 farmers attended these courses on new top-working and orchard management techniques (fertilising), pest and disease control at 5 locations in Northern Vietnam. The TV program "Farmer's Friend" has been shown on VTC16 in Vietnam which focused on the ACIAR Persimmon Project activities of top-working and pest control measures.
Ethnic Minority farmers are very eager to learn the new top-working techniques to improve quality of persimmon through introduction of new non-astringent varieties. A significant number of farmers in Mai Son and Moc Chau districts in the Son La Province, Da Bac in Hoa Binh Province are cutting down their astringent persimmon trees and top-working to the new non-astringent persimmon varieties.