Abstract: The genetic diversities of 17 samples belonged to Diospyros were analyzed by ISSR molecular markers to identify the classification of Jinzao persimmon. After previous ISSR-PCR of Diospyros lotus L., 997 bands were amplified with 37 polymorphic primers screened from 100 ISSR primers, and the average number of amplified bands was 26.94 per primer. Among these bands, 973 bands were polymorphic and the polymorphism percentage was 97.59%. The dendrogram showed that the 17 individuals were classified into two groups, among which 6 of the Jinzao persimmon materials made up a big group, and another group was composed of 3 Diospyros species. There was an obvious genetic boundary between the two groups. The results of hierarchical cluster analysis combined with the observation of anatomical characteristics of Jinzao persimmon, indicated that it might be a new species of Diospyros．

Key words: Jinzao persimmon, Diospyros, D. glaucifolia Meta, D. Lotus L., D. Kaki L., genetic diversity, ISSR