Pear adaptability and productivity in the north-eastern part of European Russia

Abstract

In the conditions of Kirov region nine pear varieties of different ecological and geographical origin planted in 2007 were studied in 2013-2017. They are Kupava (Globeflower), Perun, Svarog, Karataevskaya, Naryadnaya Efimova (Smart Efimova), Vidnaya (Prominent), Larinskaya, Povislaya (Hanging), Chizhovskaya. Dates of phonological phases were determined: the beginning of vegetation is 8th - 11^th May, blossom is 18^th - 24^th May, ripening is 29^th August - 13^th September, the end of vegetation is the second decade of October. The sum of effective temperatures (more than +10°С) essential for beginning of pear vegetation is averaging 114 °С, for beginning of blossom is 237°С. The accumulation of 1572 °С effective temperatures is essential for beginning of phonological phase “the beginning of ripening”. The period from beginning of blossom to beginning of ripening lasts from 99 to 117 days. Average time of a vegetative season is 161 days. Seven pear varieties (77.7%) showed a good level of winter hardiness (the degree of subfreezing is 2 points and lower in critical years). According to the productivity studying, varieties such as Kupava (23.2 kg/ a tree), Svarog (23.1 kg/a tree) and Perun (22.9 kg/a tree) exceeded check variety Chizhovskaya (9.2 kg/ a tree). The study of pear fruiting stability shows a low level of fruit stability (Уn= 0 - 0.40). An average fruit stability (У_п=0.40-0.75) was observed on three varieties: Chizovskaya (0.41), Kupava (0.42) and Karataevskaya (0.43). In conclusion, the studying of pear varieties showed prospects of their cultivation in conditions of the north-eastern part of European Russia.