The Laboratory of Pomology, established in 1926, specializes in pomology and the postharvest biology of fruit in the Division of Agronomy and Horticultural Science. Our research develops effective fruit production and breeding systems through genetic, plant physiological, biochemical, molecular, and evolutionary studies on the important agronomic traits of fruit tree species.
We manage orchards at the Kyoto Farmstead of the experimental farm on the Kitashirakawa Campus of Kyoto University. A variety of fruit and nut trees, including persimmon (Diospyros kaki), Japanese apricot (Prunus mume), peach (P. persica), sweet cherry (P. avium), Japanese plum (P. salicina), grape (Vitis vinifera), kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.), blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), citrus (Citrus spp.), and tropical fruits, are planted and cultivated in the orchard. Notably, the Kyoto Farmstead’s collection of over 170 persimmon accessions and cultivars is regarded as one of the most valuable persimmon germplasm resources in the world.
Large amounts of time and space are necessary for fruit tree research. We attempt to overcome these difficulties using sophisticated strategies and skills. Through these efforts, we have achieved important advances in agriculture and agronomy (molecular markers for self-compatibility, bud dormancy, and self-incompatibility in Prunus fruit tree species), as well as in plant biology (sexuality of persimmons). We also study the breeding of new cultivars (the baby-persimmon project) and develop new breeding techniques. Our efforts contribute to both basic and applied sciences. Furthermore, we aim to make our laboratory internationally relevant by reporting our research results at international symposia and in the international journals of the JSHS and ISHS. We expect both our undergraduate and graduate students to be internationally active.
About us
About us