Persimmon
ExperimentalPerformance
Recommended for experimental use, with the 7 mm probe. Our own early trials used the older, larger probes and failed — black oozing from the sensor wound prevented measurement. An independent 2026 study (Conesa et al., Scientia Horticulturae) ran 7 mm probes through a full summer season in ‘Rojo Brillante’ persimmon on both D. lotus and D. virginiana rootstocks, with no wounding problems reported. Trunk water potential tracked pressure-chamber stem water potential closely (r² = 0.84 on D. lotus, 0.64 on D. virginiana), separated irrigated from deficit trees earlier and more consistently than the discrete measurements, and was the most sensitive of every plant-based indicator tested — ahead of stem water potential, leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and sap flow. FloraPulse has not yet repeated this in the field.
Installation Tips
- Use the 7 mm probe. The older, larger probes are what produced the black oozing wound response in our early trials.
- Conesa et al. installed into a main branch on the shaded, north-facing side of the tree.
Known Issues
- Black oozing from the sensor wound blocked measurement in our own early trials with the older probes. Not reported in the 2026 study that used 7 mm probes, but FloraPulse has not independently repeated that result in the field.
Data & Validation
Continuous trunk water potential (top) and sap flow (bottom) through a summer deficit trial in ‘Rojo Brillante’ persimmon on D. lotus (left) and D. virginiana (right). Filled symbols: fully irrigated; open symbols: deficit irrigation. The red bar marks the stress period. From Conesa et al. 2026 (CC BY 4.0).
FloraPulse trunk water potential (vertical axis) against pressure-chamber stem water potential (horizontal axis) in persimmon: r² = 0.84 on D. lotus, 0.64 on D. virginiana. From Conesa et al. 2026 (CC BY 4.0).
References
- Conesa, M.R., Conejero, W., Parra, M., Navarro, A., Intrigliolo, D.S. & Ruiz-Sánchez, M.C. (2026). Multi-scale assessment of plant water status in Diospyros kaki grafted onto D. lotus and D. virginiana under water deficit. Scientia Horticulturae 366, 115030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2026.115030