HIGH POTENTIAL IN NEW NORWEGIAN BRED PEAR CULTIVARS

Three Norwegian bred pear cultivars have been released from the breeding programme that was initiated in 1983, ‘Celina’ QTee^®, ‘Kristina’ and ‘Ingrid’. ‘Ingrid’ was launched in 2006, whereas ‘Celina’ and ‘Kristina’ were launched in 2010. Of these three cultivars, ‘Celina’ QTee^® is the most promising one, as the process of commercialization and planting has been started in many countries. ‘Celina’ QTee^® is an early maturing cultivar with a very attractive red blush, and good fruit quality, and have the potential to be a significant international pear cultivar. ‘Ingrid’ is an extremely early cultivar with high fruit quality and medium-small fruits. This cultivar has most appreciation in cooler climate. ‘Kristina’ is a green-yellow pear with good fruit quality that has shown potential for organic growing. The results from international trials have been a prerequisite for a wide and objective evaluation of the material. Without this information reported back to the breeder, the material would have been discarded and lost. Pear breeding in Graminor at Njøs was terminated by the grubbing of seedlings in 2009.