The Effects of Evaporative Cooling for Bloom Delay on ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Bosc’ Pear Fruit Maturity and Quality1

Abstract

Abstract Mature orchard misting and sprinkling and young hedgerow misting for bloom delay of pear (Pyrus communis L.) reduced fruit sizes of ‘Bartlett’ 6% and of ‘Bosc’ 12%. Harvest maturity, indicated by fruit pressure testing, was delayed 0 to 6 days for ‘Bartlett’ and 2 to 7 days for ‘Bosc’. The effect of bloom delay on fruit size and maturity was greater on ‘Bosc’ than ‘Bartlett’. Bloom delay had a greater effect on fruit sizing at harvest (3.5 days for every 6 days of bloom delay) than on harvest maturity (1 day for every 6 days delay). Soluble solids, not affected in pears from the mature plots, were slightly lower in the misted hedgerow. Titratable acids were not influenced by bloom delay.