Evaluation of Commercial Potential of Asian Pear Cultivars in South Carolina

Abstract

An Asian pear variety trial consisting of 13 cultivars replicated 12 times was planted in 1989 near Columbia, S.C. For 6 years, cultivars were evaluated for commercial fruit production. The Chinese types `Ya Li' and `Shin Li' bloomed earliest (early March), whereas Japanese types such as `Twentieth Century' and `Choju' bloomed 10 to 12 days later. The largest trees were `Ya Li', `Shinsei', and `Shin Li', and the smallest were `Shinko', `Shinsui', and `Twentieth Century'. All cultivars on P. betulaefolia rootstock had suckers, with `Chojuro' and `Shinko' trees having the fewest. `Kosui' and `Shinsui' defoliated first each fall. Average fruit yields in kg/tree were largest for `Ya Li', `Shinsui', `Shin Li', and `Twentieth Century'. Fruit size was large (>200 g) for the Chinese types such as `Ya Li', `Shin Li', and `Daisu Li', but small (<100 g) and non-commercial for `Twentieth Century'. Fruit maturity dates were consistent year to year, with `Choju' and `Shinsui' ripening first (early July) and the Chinese types ripening last (mid-August). Low return bloom (i.e., alternate bearing) was observed after a heavy crop year. Winter injury, as evidenced by bark cracking on the southwest side of the trunk, was severe in 1993–1994. However, `Ya Li' suffered no cold damage. Fireblight was first observed in the 1992, and increased in 1993 and 1994. `Choju', `Shinseiki', and `Kosui' were the most-susceptible cultivars, while `Ya Li', `Shinsui', and `Shinko' were the most tolerant.