RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VEGETATIVE STRUCTURE AND EARLY BEARING IN PEAR SEEDLINGS

Three offsprings (Doyenne du Comice x Sirrine, Doyenne du Comice x Duchesse d’Angouleme and Sirrine x Duchesse d’Angouleme), giving a total amount of 193 seedlings, have been evaluated to estimate the relationship between vegetative aspects and early bearing.
The cross combination Sirrine x Duchesse d’Angouleme gave the highest percentage of seedlings with blossoms since the third year from planting: 13% in 1990, 80% in 1991 and 44% in 1992. On the opposite, the progeny Doyenne du Comice x Duchesse d’Angouleme gave the lowest percentage.
The branch angle to the central leader resulted correlated negatively with growth and dry weight of shoots.
In turn, blossom and production were correlated positively with growth and dry matter/shoots length ratio and negatively with presence of thorns and shoot vigor (length and length/section ratio). Fruit size and quality resulted correlated positively with stocks of dry matter in two years old branches.
In conclusion, a short juvenile period in pear seems to be associated with a good efficiency in reserves and dry matter accumulation in woody parts of plant.

VI International Symposium on Pear Growing

G.L. Bagnara, M.L. Maltoni, M. Laghi, L. Rivalta

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1994.367.13