Asian Pear Production in Kentucky

1
Asian Pear Production in Kentucky

• R. Terry Jones, Ed Fackler and Danna Reed

2
Three Types of Asian Pear

• Based on fruit shape and skin color
• Round or flat fruit with green or yellow skin.
• Round or flat fruit with bronze-colored or
  bronze-russet skin.
• Pear-shaped with green or russet skin.

3
Asian Pears

• Fertility requirements not high.
• Adapted to a range of
• Soils.
• Climates.
• Fewer pest problems than other tree fruits.

4
Basic Nutritional Facts

• 16 carbohydrate.
• Negligible fat or protein.
• B-complex vitamins.
• Vitamin C.
• Small amounts
• Phosphorus.
• Iodine.

5
Asian Pears

• Less cold hardy than European (-20F) zones 5-9.
• May lose bloom in springs with variable freezing.
• Fireblight susceptible.
• Set too heavy, require thinning. ex Shinko
• Require careful harvest.

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Asian Pear Rootstock

• Pyrus betulaefolia
• large tree, tolerates wet soils, hardy 0 F
• Pyrus calleryana
• preferred in S.E. because of fire blight
  resistance, hardy 0-10 F
• Pyrus communis (Old Home x Farmingdale)
• Dwarfed 50, hardy -30 F
• Pyrus ussuriensis
• cold hardy -30F

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Asian Pears at a Glance
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Asian Pear Bloom

• Flowering time
• after peaches
• before apples
• Pears are partially self fruitful.
• Limit fruit to 1-2 per cluster
• Cluster 4-6 in. apart

9
Chinese Pears Ya Li

• Bloom 1 week ahead of Korean pears.
• Freeze out more often
• Long season.
• Smooth, green skin.
• Medium fruit size.

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Pear Pollination Chart
11
Asian Pear Trial Results, Quicksand Kentucky
12
Asian Pear Harvest

• Harvest gently susceptible to bruising.
• Wind rain cause fruit drop.
• Store at 32-35 F at 90-95 RH.
• Will store up to 3 mo.

13
Korean Giant Asian Pears

• Some russet, greenish yellow.
• Late Sept early Oct harvest.
• Very large fruit.
• Fireblight tolerance.

14
Yoinashi Asian Pear

• Light to golden brown skin
• Crunchy, sweet
• Crisp, juicy
• Ripen late August

15
Fireblight Resistance

• Highly resistant
• Shinko
• Moderately resistant
• Chojuro
• Shinsei
• Korean Giant
• Yoinashi

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Fireblight

• Triggered by
• Heat
• Moisture
• Transmitted by
• Bees
• Other insects
• Wind rain
• Apply dormant copper or Bordeaux.
• Apply Streptomycin during bloom.

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Maryblyt Predicts Fireblight Infection Periods

• Prediction based on
• Daily max and min. temps.
• Rainfall.
• Leaf wetness.
• Stage of blossom development.

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1995 Asian Pear Fireblight Rating, Quicksand
Kentucky
19
Asian Pear Stink Bug Damage

• Apply insectides beginning at petal fall through
  cover sprays.
• Imidan 70 WP
• Confirm 2F
• Capture 2E
• Danitol 2.4 EC
• Avaunt 30 WDG

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Stink Bug Damage
21
Codling Moth (Carpocapsa pomonella)

• May be severe on Asian pear.
• Set pheromone traps at bloom.
• Insecticides include
• Imidan 70 WP
• Confirm 2 F
• Warrior 1 E