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Pear Cultivars
Pear Cultivars
215 08/02 02-039 08/09 This Factsheet is one of a series that replaces OMAFRA Publication 430 Ken Slingerland - OMAFRA; Bill Lay - University of Guelph; Dr. David Hunter Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 2. Recommended Pear Cultivars 3. Pear Harvest Dates 4. Pear Pollination 5. Pear Cultivar Descriptions 6. Pear Rootstock Descriptions and Recommendations 7. Pear Cultivars and Rootstocks
Introduction
This Factsheet provides information that will guide commercial growers in selecting fruit cultivars to plant. Recommendations for planting cultivars and adapted areas within the province have been determined by University of Guelph, Department of Plant Agriculture, Vineland, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAFRA). Valuable assistance was provided in consultation with growers, shipper/dealers, nurseries, processors and the Ontario Tender Fruit Producers' Marketing Board (OTFPMB). The term "cultivar" is used throughout this Factsheet. Cultivar, a contraction of "cultivated variety," replaces the older and confusing term "variety," which also refers to recognizable types within a species that maintain their distinguishing characteristics in the wild state. A cultivar is any horticulturally recognized and named type or sort that can only be maintained through vegetative propagation or the use of selected breeding lines and seed sources.
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located at Harrow. For a more detailed description of pear cultivars, see section D, "Pear Cultivar Descriptions." In Ontario, pears are grown in regions where winter temperatures may be severe enough to cause cold injury to shoots, fruit spurs, trunks and roots. Also, spring frost during bloom is a threat in most regions. To ensure fruiting, pears should be grown in areas that have some moderating affect from one of the Great Lakes or on a site with a slope that allows for good air drainage. Table 1. Recommended Pear Cultivars Hardiness Zones General Planting Limited Planting Trial Planting ACTM Harrow Crisp ACTM Harrow Gold
(Zones 5b to 7b)
Date Aug. 6 Aug. 26 Aug. 26 Aug. 27 Aug. 29 Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 9 Sept. 23 Oct. 2
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Anjou Bosc
Oct. 5 Oct. 7
Pear Pollination
Under Ontario conditions, commercial pear cultivars are considered self-unfruitful; consequently, crosspollination with a suitable pollenizer cultivar is required. The pollenizer cultivar should bloom annually, flower at the same time as the cultivar to be pollinated and be cross compatible. Make sure those cultivars chosen as pollenizers are of commercial importance and suitable for the market requirements of the grower. Pollenizer cultivars should not be biennial in bearing habit or unusually susceptible to pests, disease or other problems that might interfere with the pollenizer function. Most recommended pear cultivars flower at the same time and there is often satisfactory bloom overlap for effective cross-pollination among cultivars. The bloom season for pears, as for other fruit crops, varies among cultivars, from season to season and between locations. The long-term data collected at Vineland show an average full-bloom date of between May 15 and 17 among different cultivars. Full-bloom dates, however, are not useful for predicting the exact full-bloom period for this crop from year to year. Cross-incompatibility (the inability of pollen from one cultivar to set fruit on another) is seldom found among diploid pear cultivars. The only exception of importance is the cross-incompatibility of Bartlett pollen with Seckel. There may be other causes of functional incompatibility among pear cultivars. The flowers of Bartlett and Bosc have abundant pollen and are satisfactory pollenizers of each other, as well as of other cultivars. Flemish Beauty has shown the highest degree of self-fertility among pear cultivars recommended in Ontario. Pollinated by Anjou, Flemish Beauty is a good pollenizer for Bartlett and Bosc. In standard orchards, plant the pollenizer cultivar no more than 2 trees away from the main cultivar, i.e., at least 1 tree of a pollenizer cultivar for every 8 trees of the main cultivar. Because pear pollen grains are relatively large, little transfer of pollen by wind occurs. Honeybees, bumblebees and large flies are the major agents responsible for transferring pollen among pear cultivars. Two beehives per hectare in mature orchards are considered the minimum, and 4 hives/hectare are recommended for optimum pollination. Several hives can be placed together in a protected area. Research has shown that a great deal of pollen transfer does occur within the hive. Place the hives in the centre of every 2 ha by the time 10%-20% of blooms have opened. For best exposure to the sun, face hive openings south to stimulate early bee activity. The nectar of pear flowers contains about 10% sugar as compared to the bloom of some weeds and fruit crops, which may contain up to 60% sugar in their nectar. For this reason, pear flowers are relatively unattractive to pollinating insects. Mow the orchard just prior to bloom to remove alternative nectar sources attractive to bees. Avoid orchard spraying during bloom and remove hives after bloom as soon as possible to avoid damage to bees from post-bloom sprays. Bosc is an ideal pollenizer for Bartlett and is adequately pollinated by Bartlett as well. Anjou is a satisfactory pollenizer for Bartlett. ACTM Harrow Crisp (formerly HW 610) tends to be a poor pollinator and will not consistently pollinate Bartlett, but Bartlett will pollinate ACTM Harrow Crisp to a limited extent. In pollination studies in 2000, good fruit set was obtained when ACTM Harrow Crisp was self-pollinated or pollinated by HW 614, with limited fruit set when pollinated by Bartlett. ACTM Harrow Crisp pollinated Bosc, Anjou, Flemish Beauty and ACTM Harrow Gold, with limited fruit set on Bartlett and Clapp's Favourite. ACTM Harrow Gold (formerly HW 616) pollination of Bartlett has been variable. In some years, it does not appear to pollinate Bartlett, while in other years, good fruit set has been obtained with ACTM Harrow Gold pollen. In pollination studies in 2000, ACTM Harrow Gold pollinated Bartlett, Bosc, Anjou and Flemish Beauty. Bartlett does appear to consistently pollinate ACTM Harrow Gold. Bartlett, Bosc and ACTM Harrow Crisp pollinated ACTM Harrow Gold in recent pollination studies.
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performance of each cultivar in test plantings and/or commercial orchards in Ontario. Unless otherwise indicated, a cultivar is generally satisfactory in tree growth, hardiness, and cropping and fruit quality characteristics such as size, colour, shape and internal quality. These appraisals apply only to Ontario conditions. Performance elsewhere may be substantially different.
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well. It is suitable only for limited commercial planting as an early roadside and farm market cultivar. ACTM Harrow Crisp (formerly HW 610) (Parentage: Bartlett x US56112-146) It is a very attractive pear with red blush on smooth yellow skin. The cream-white flesh is smooth, grit-free and firm even when fully ripe, with a mild sweet flavour. The fruit matures at the end of Aug. or early Sept., about the same time as Bartlett. It can be picked over a 2-week period. Early picked fruit can be stored for about 2 months, but storage life is reduced with later picking. If kept too long or picked too late, it will deteriorate internally without external signs. Fruit size on unthinned trees is slightly larger than Bartlett. It has a good to very good rating for fresh fruit quality. When processed as pear halves, it has maintained its integrity, received good to very good ratings, and has been included in a CanAdapt pear trial. The tree is medium in size, conical and upright, annually productive and hardy. The tree has excellent resistance to natural fire blight infections (9.5 rating compared to Bartlett reading of 4.2), similar to Harrow Sweet and Harvest Queen. Following inoculation, lesion development may extend to about 15% of current season's growth. Precocity of ACTM Harrow Crisp is similar to Bartlett, trees coming into production about 4 years after planting. ACTMHarrow Crisp is protected under the Plant Breeders Rights Act (application number 00-2184). ACTM Harrow Gold (formerly HW 616) (Parentage: Harvest Queen x Harrow Delight) Fruit are picked about 10 days before Bartlett, between Harrow Delight and Harvest Queen. An attractive yellow fruit, with good size (larger than Harvest Queen, similar in size to Bartlett), smooth skin, fine texture, very good flavour with a good balance between sweetness and acidity, and exceptionally juicy. The fresh fruit quality of ACTM Harrow Gold is rated similar to Bartlett. As with many other early season pears, the fruit will not store for very long (probably no more than 4-6 weeks) in common cold storage, but it is excellent for roadside stands. This cultivar has received good to very good processing ratings and has been included in the CanAdapt pear trial. ACTM Harrow Gold has excellent resistance to natural fire blight infections (9.6 rating); however, in some years following inoculation with the causative organism, lesions have developed which have extended to about 25% of current season's growth. Precocity in a second test planting appears to be similar to that of Bartlett. ACTM Harrow Gold is protected under the Plant Breeders Rights Act (application number 00-2185). Harrow Delight The fruit, smaller than Bartlett, are greenish yellow in colour with a red blush. The cultivar ripens 2 weeks before Bartlett and is resistant to fire blight. Pick fruit while still green; otherwise, it drops heavily. Harrow Delight is pollen-compatible with Bartlett, Bosc, Anjou and Harvest Queen. Harvest Queen The fruit resemble Bartlett in shape, colour, texture and flavour, but are smaller than Bartlett. Thinning will improve fruit size and reduce the tendency toward biennial bearing. Harvest Queen ripens 1 week before Bartlett and is as resistant to fire blight as Kieffer. Fruit hangs well on the tree and size will improve with delayed picking. Harvest Queen is pollen-compatible with Bosc, Anjou and Harrow Delight, but not Bartlett. Harrow SweetTM (PBR #0572) Fruit size is comparable to Bartlett, colour is yellow with a red blush at maturity, and taste is sweet, juicy and excellent. The cultivar ripens 3 weeks later than Bartlett and trees show good resistance to fire blight. Harrow Sweet is reciprocally pollen-compatible with Bartlett. Kieffer Strictly a canning pear of poor quality and a poor pollenizer for major pear cultivars grown in the province. Although it is highly fireblight resistant, most Kieffer plantings have been removed and planting Kieffer is not advised in Ontario. Seckel A very high-quality, attractive, productive, small, late pear. The core tends to break down in the middle near harvest. In Ontario it has been used for pickling. Seckel should be planted only in home gardens and for special markets in Ontario.
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its adaptation to soil and climatic conditions its compatibility with commercial pear cultivars its susceptibility to certain diseases and insects.
Standard Rootstocks
Bartlett Seedling At the present time most of the pear trees in North America are grown on seedlings of Bartlett. These seedlings produce vigorous trees and are adaptable to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions but they are all susceptible to fire blight in the nursery and orchard. Trees of Bartlett on Bartlett seedling rootstock are moderately vigorous and strong. The root system is composed of numerous, roots that are well distributed for anchorage. The fruit tend to be medium in size, fairly well shaped and high in soluble solids. Bartlett seedling is still the main recommended rootstock for pear in Ontario.
Dwarfing rootstocks
In recent years, emphasis has been directed toward development of more precocious dwarfing rootstocks suitable for intensive pear plantings. For size controlling rootstocks, pruning and training systems need to be amended in order ensure the size controlling effect. Pear growers have been limited to Quince selections (Cydonia oblonga) for use as dwarfing rootstocks. Table 3, 'Graft compatibility of pear cultivars on Quince rootstocks", lists the pear cultivars, which are compatible and incompatible, when grafted directly on Quince. Table 3. Graft compatibility of pear cultivars on Quince rootstocks Compatible Anjou Bartlett (Swiss-compatible strain only) Incompatible Bartlett Bosc
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Quince A This rootstock is reasonably winter hardy (to -26 C.), tolerates excess soil moisture but not standing water, restricts vegetative growth of the pear scion cultivar, and induces fruit production at a younger age. It is not unusual to have fruit on 2 yr-old trees in the nursery or orchard. Since the standard Bartlett is incompatible on Quince, Swiss Bartlett, a strain of Bartlett, which is compatible with Quince A, is used directly on Quince roots. Bosc is also incompatible with Quince A. The cultivars Anjou, Duchess and Hardy are recommended for use as a graft compatible interstem. In research trials, Bosc with Old Home interstem has produced lower yields and smaller fruit. Trees of Bosc on Quince rootstocks are about the same size with all the interstems mentioned above. Quince C This is another clonal selection but has not proven to be as winter hardy as Quince A. It is more dwarfing than Quince A and very susceptible to leaf-spot fungus in the nursery. Quince C is presently under evaluation at Vineland. Other Quinces The major problem with Quince rootstocks is lack of winter hardiness in some regions of North America and Europe. Several clones with a reportedly higher degree of hardiness than Quince A have been developed and tested elsewhere. Guidelines for planting and managing pear trees on Quince rootstocks: a. Since Quince A is shallow-rooted, trees on this rootstock often lean severely after cropping begins. To reduce this problem, trees in the nursery should be high budded at 20 cm, leaving a long rootstock shank. At planting time set the trees so that only 2-3 cm of the rootstock shank are exposed above the soil line to prevent scion rooting. Each fall, remove accumulated soil and debris around the trunk area to expose the union. This approach will provide better anchorage and reduce the potential for rootstock suckering. Provide trees on Quince A rootstock with a stake or trellis for additional tree support. Fall planting of pear on Quince rootstock is not advised in Ontario. If pear trees on Quince rootstock are fall planted, carefully replace the soil to eliminate all air pockets around the root system and mulch the crown area of the trunks. Failure to carry out these procedures may result in significant winter injury to the crown and/or root system. During the first 2 years in the orchard, protect the crown of the Quince rootstock with mulch in order to prevent cold injury to the roots. The mulch must be removed in spring. Good rodent control practices must also be followed to minimize risk of tree damage. Do not crop for the first 3-4 years in the orchard. Remove the fruits as soon as possible in the
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b. c.
d.
e.
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Pear Cultivars
spring. This allows proper formation of scaffold branches and establishment of adequate bearing surface area on the tree. Otherwise, the trees may become spur- bound, with reduced yield potential for the life of the orchard. f. Since Bosc is not directly compatible on Quince A, use graft-compatible interstems (Anjou, Duchess or Hardy). Research findings at Vineland have shown that when interstems (Anjou or Hardy) are used for Bosc, yield and large fruit size are satisfactory. Standard Bartlett is not directly compatible on Quince A. If Bartlett trees budded directly on Quince A are purchased, be sure that compatible Swiss Bartlett has been used. According to experimental results obtained at Vineland, desirable spacing for dwarf pear plantings is 3.5 m. between rows and 2.5 m. in between trees (1143 trees/hectare or 453 trees/acre). Many factors, such as scion cultivar, soil and site, orchard equipment, orchard management and economics will influence the choice of tree spacing.
g.
h.
Bosc Brush California Clairgeau Clara Frijs Cornice (LA) Deuble Flemish Beauty Gorham Harrow Delight Harvest Queen Howell Luscious Magness Merton Pride (LA) Mori Seckel Sirrine Stark Jumbo Vermont Beauty
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Highland Iler Mac Mainstream Moonglow Santa Maria Sierra Spartlet Thornless Seckel
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Pear Cultivars
Winter Nelis List No. II - Pear Rootstock and Species Collections Farmingdale English Hardy Old Home Quince A (EMLA) Quince C (Harrow) Angers 85-1, 129, 131, 132, 144-3 Cydonia oblonga, Pigwa (Poland): S-1 S-2 S-3
For more information: Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300 Local: (519) 826-4047 E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
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