Evaluation of pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars in Latvia

Pears (Pyrus communis L.) are an important commercial crop in Latvia, ranked as a second most important fruit tree crop. The aim of this study was the choice of suitable new pear cultivars for growing in Latvia. The evaluation was carried out at the Latvia State Institute of Fruit-Growing. Eighteen cultivars were evaluated over six years. Flowering intensity, harvest date, average fruit weight, taste and chemical composition (total soluble solids, flesh firmness, titratable acidity (TA)) and resistance to diseases and pests were recorded. Flowering intensity showed significant differences among years: the highest was in 2009 and 2011, the lowest in 2007, but not among cultivars. The highest fruit weight (292 g) was detected for cv. Tavricheskaya, the high and stable fruit size for cv. Elektra. The best fruit qualities were produced by cvs Concorde, Condo and Conference. Stable and high content of soluble solids, high TA and fruit firmness were found in fruit of cv. Lyubimitsa Osennyaya. There were no cultivars resistant to European pear rust; the lowest susceptibility was detected for cv. Noyabrskaya (synonym Xenia), whereas cv. Talgarskaya Krasavitsa was resistant to sooty mould (caused by Leptoxyphium fumago) and cv. Smuglyanka - to pear leaf blister mite (Eriophyes pyri).