Abstract Persimmon ( Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit undergoes intensive cell wall modification during postharvest fruit softening. Xyloglucan metabolism is important in cell wall disassembly. We cloned cDNAs for two xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolase genes ( DkXTH 1 and DkXTH 2) from ‘Saijo’ persimmon fruit treated with dry ice to remove astringency. In order to determine the ethylene dependence of XTH gene expression, fruit were exposed to 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an inhibitor of ethylene action, prior to removal of astringency. Ethylene production increased in mature control and 1-MCP-pretreated fruit after dry-ice treatment, and flesh firmness decreased to the same extent during dry-ice treatment in the control and 1-MCP-pretreated fruit. After dry-ice treatment, control fruit softened completely, but fruit firmness was maintained in 1-MCP-pretreated fruit. Accumulation of DkXTH 1 mRNA was induced simultaneously with commencement of ethylene production in mature control fruit. Pretreatment with 1-MCP delayed accumulation of DkXTH 1 mRNA. DkXTH 2 expression also coincided with fruit softening but was intensified by 1-MCP treatment during the deastringency treatment. These results indicate that fruit softening was related to both DkXTH 1 and DkXTH 2 expression in ‘Saijo’ persimmons.