Abstract: Studies on conservation of in vitro shoots of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb．)and date plum (D．1otus L．)by slow growth and genetic stability of recovered plantlets were carried out．Results showed that 90％ of in vitro shoots conserved on MS(1／2N)supplemented with 20 L sucrose，7 g／L agar
and 500 mg／L soluble PVP added with 20 L mannitol or 1．0 nqIg／L PP333 respectively or on 1／2MS(1／2N) supplemented with 15 g／L sucrose．7 g／L agar and 500 mg／L soluble PVP added with 0．2 mg／L CPPU f0r l8 months at(6±1)℃and 800 lX(12 h photoperiod)maintained viability．Those recovered plantlets conserved with 3 methods above were analyzed on cytological and molecular levels respectively．Resuh showed both Ha—clear DNA content and chromosome numbers maintained as norma1．And only few shoots cultivated with PP11，in which existed 0．1 6％ variation in Jirou persimmon owing to 3 distinct new bands appearing in l 827 ampli—fled bands and 0．86％ variation in Date plum for l distinct new band and absence of 14 bands existing in 1 736
amplified bands when 3 single—bud sibling lines were analyzed by RAPD markers respectively．Thus．it sugges—ted these procedures would be effective and viable to conserve Diospyros germ plasm by slow growth as above．

Key words: Persimmon, Date plum, In vitro shoot, Slow gro~_h, Genetic stability, Conservation of gennplasm