Economic-biological estimation of pear varieties in the conditions of the steppe zone of the Southern Urals

Abstract

The paper presents the results of long-term research into winter hardiness, yield, and resistance to scab of introduced pear varieties. The research was carried out in 2021-2023 on collection plots (established in 2002, 2003) of the Orenburg branch of the Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery in accordance with generally accepted methods. Objects of research included pear varieties ‘Krasnobokaya’ (K), ‘Krasulya’, ‘Vekovaya’, ‘Myth’, ‘Kuibyshevskaya Zolotistaya’, ‘Nezhnost’, ‘Isetskaya Sochnaya’, ‘Lel’, ‘Bolshaya’. The analysis of the obtained data showed that the damaging factors for the pear in the Orenburg region included low negative temperatures and thaws in winter, followed by frosts (2021 and 2023). The maximum degree of freezing (3.0 points) was observed in ‘Kuibyshevskaya Zolotistaya’ and ‘Nezhnost’ varieties in the winter of 2023, affecting their productivity (4.6 t/ha and 5.0 t/ha, respectively). Most of the studied varieties were found to be winter-hardy (slight freezing up to 2.0 points): ‘Krasnobokaya’ (K), ‘Krasulya’, ‘Vekovaya’, ‘Myth’, ‘Isetskaya Sochnaya’, ‘Lel’, ‘Bolshaya’. It was revealed that the maximum average yield for three years of research was obtained in varieties ‘Krasnobokaya’ (K) (8.3 t/ha), ‘Krasulya’ (9.1 t/ha), ‘Vekovaya’ (8.1 t/ha), ‘Myth’ (8.2 t/ha),’ Isetskaya Sochnaya’ (9.7 t/ha), ‘Lel’ (7.9 t/ha), ‘Bolshaya’ (8.5 t/ha). The highest average fruit weight was obtained in varieties ‘Vekovaya’ (120.6 g) and ‘Bolshaya’ (101.2 g). Meanwhile, ‘Bolshaya’ and ‘Lel’ varieties revealed no significant deviations in fruit sizes from the pomological description, unlike the other varieties. It was found that the degree of leaf scab damage varied from 0 (‘Krasulya’, ‘Vekovaya’, ‘Myth’, ‘Bolshaya’) to 2.0 points (‘Kuibyshevskaya Zolotistaya’, ‘Nezhnost’), fruit damage occurred in varieties ‘Nezhnost’ (1.0 point) and ‘Kuibyshevskaya Zolotistaya’ (1.5-2.0 points). Long-term research afforded ground for comprehensive economic and biological evaluation of the introduced pear varieties and identifying valuable samples to be involved in the selection process in the steppe zone of the Southern Urals: ‘Krasnobokaya’ (K), ‘Krasulya’, ‘Vekovaya’, ‘Myth’, ‘Isetskaya Sochnaya’, ‘Lel’, ‘Bolshaya’.