Subtropical and Temperate Fruit Production
HORMA 201 - M.Sc. (Ag.) Horticulture
UNIT I: Apple, Pear, Quince, Grapes
Chapter 2 -
🍐 PEAR (Pyrus communis, Pyrus pyrifolia)
Family: Rose family (Rosaceae)
Commercial Varieties: Regional, National, and International Importance
Over 3,000 varieties worldwide
Indian (Asiatic/Oriental) (Pyrus pyrifolia): Patharnakh, Kieffer, Gola, Le Conte – tolerant to low chilling
European (Pyrus communis): Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Beurre Bosc, Conference, Packham’s Triumph
Regions: Himachal, Punjab, Uttarakhand, J&K, NE hills
Ecophysiological Requirements
Climate:
Temperate to subtropical; best at 1300–2100 m elevation in tropics ((Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh)
Chilling requirement: Most European pears need 800–1,000 hours below 7°C for proper dormancy and flowering.
After bud break, freezing temperatures are harmful.
Soil:
Deep, well-drained, fertile, medium-textured clay loam; pH 6.0–7.5; minimum depth 180 cm.
More tolerant of wet soils than apple, but less drought-tolerant.
Recent Trends in Propagation and Rootstock Influence
Propagation:
Mainly by grafting (T-budding, whip, tongue, or cleft grafting).
Rootstocks:
Quince (Cydonia oblonga) for dwarfing (used for high-density planting, but not compatible with all varieties).
Seedling pear rootstocks for vigour and adaptability.
Incompatibility between some pear varieties and quince is overcome with double working/interstocks.
Rootstock Influence: Affects tree size, precocity, productivity, disease resistance, and adaptability to soil conditions.
Planting Systems and Cropping Systems
Planting Systems:
Square and rectangular systems are standard; high-density planting with dwarfing rootstocks is increasing.
Spacing: 6–8 m for vigorous rootstocks; 3–4 m for dwarfing rootstocks.
Cropping Systems: Intercropping with legumes, vegetables, or short-duration crops is common in young orchards.
Root Zone and Canopy Management
Root Zone: Deep tillage before planting; mulching and cover crops for moisture retention and weed control.
Canopy Management:
Modified central leader or open centre systems are practised.
Annual pruning to maintain fruiting spurs and remove diseased/dead wood.
Nutrient Management
General Schedule: FYM: 50–80 kg/tree/year; NPK: 500–700 g N, 250–350 g P, 400–600 g K per mature tree, split between pre-flowering and post-fruit set.
Micronutrients: Boron, zinc, and iron deficiencies are common and corrected by foliar sprays.
Water Management and Fertigation
Water Management: Regular irrigation is needed during flowering, fruit set, and fruit development. Avoid waterlogging; ensure good drainage.
Fertigation: Increasing use of drip and fertigation for efficient input use and uniform application.
Bioregulation
Growth Regulators:
Dormex (hydrogen cyanamide) and other bud-break agents are used where chilling is inadequate.
Gibberellins and cytokinins for fruit set and development.
Thinning: Chemical or manual thinning to regulate crop load and improve fruit size/quality.
Abiotic Factors Limiting Fruit Production
Chilling Insufficiency: Leads to poor bud break, delayed flowering, low yield, and poor fruit quality.
Frost Injury: Damage to buds and flowers post-bud break.
Drought and Waterlogging: Both can reduce yield and fruit quality.
Physiology of Flowering, Fruit Set, and Development
Flowering: Initiated after sufficient chilling; occurs on spurs of 2+ year-old wood.
Pollination: Cross-pollination is essential for most varieties; bees are primary pollinators.
Fruit Set and Development: Dependent on carbohydrate reserves, hormonal balance, and environmental conditions.
Physiological Disorders – Causes and Remedies
Premature Fruit Drop: Caused by nutritional imbalance, water stress, or hormonal issues; managed by proper nutrition, irrigation, and use of auxins.
Core Breakdown: Linked to over-maturity or storage issues; harvest at correct maturity.
Black End: Due to boron deficiency; corrected by boron sprays.
Russeting: Caused by humidity or pesticide injury; select resistant varieties and adjust spray schedules.
Quality Improvement by Management Practices
Balanced Nutrition and Irrigation: Ensures optimal fruit size, color, and TSS.
Thinning and Pruning: Regulates crop load and improves fruit quality.
Integrated Pest and Disease Management: Reduces blemishes and postharvest losses.
Maturity Indices, Harvesting, Grading, Packing, Precooling, Storage, Transportation, and Ripening Techniques
Maturity Indices: Ground colour change, firmness, TSS, and days from full bloom.
Harvesting: Hand-picked at mature green stage; avoid over-ripeness on the tree.
Grading and Packing: Based on size, shape, colour, and absence of defects, packed in ventilated boxes with cushioning.
Precooling and Storage: Rapid cooling to 0–1°C; controlled atmosphere storage extends shelf life.
Transportation: Refrigerated transport is preferred for long distances.
Ripening: Pears are climacteric; they ripen best off-tree at ambient or controlled temperatures.
Industrial and Export Potential, Agri Export Zones (AEZ), and Industrial Support
Industrial Uses: Canned pears, baby food, juices, glazes, perry (alcoholic beverage), dried fruit, and wood for instruments/furniture.
Export Potential:
India is a net importer; major exporters to India are South Africa, USA, Spain.
International demand for Anjou, Bartlett, and Packham varieties.
AEZ and Industrial Support:
AEZs are established in major growing regions to promote exports and processing.
Support includes cold chain, packhouses, and market linkages.
References
Bose et al., 2002; Chadha & Pareek, 1996; Chadha & Shikhamany, 1999; Janick & Moore, 1996; Nijjar, 1977; Radha & Mathew, 2007; Singh et al., 2004