• Maximum area and production in Jammu and Kashmir.
• In 2024, India will have an area of ​​33,000 hectares and a production of 288,000 metric tons.
• The world’s largest producer is China, followed by the United States.
• Bear fruits axillary on old season growth.
• Gametophytic self-incompatibility present in pear.
• Pear is entomophilous.
• Chilling requirement – ​​1200 hours. Bartlett (1500 hours), Patharnakh (150 hours).
• Perry – wine made from pears.
• Training – by the modified central leader system.
• Cultivars grown on hills are partially self fruitful and require pollinizer – planting to be done every forth tree in every 4th row as pollinizers are adequate.

Rootstock

• Willo leaf pear (Pyrus salicifolia) is frost, drought and salt resistant root stock.
• European / Common / Soft pear – Pyrus communis.
• Japanese / Oriental / Hard pear – Pyrus pyrifolia.
• Mehal / Kainth (Pyrus pashia) and sharia (Pyrus serotina) are important rootstock of pear.
• Old home or Beurre hardy used as interstock between Bartlett and Quince.
• Quince -C: dwarf rootstock for pear.
• Quince -A is most commonly used rootstock producing trees of 50 – 60 % of standard size.

Varieties

(A) European

• Bartlett (Baggughosha) – Interspecific hybrid variety, famous for dry pear slices
• Flemish Beauty:- self fertile, good pollinizer.
• Starkimson delicious
• Anjou
• Max Red Bartlett.
• Comice
• Winter Nellis
• Jule’s Cryot
• Laxton’s Nellis
• Fertility

(B) Asian

• Leconte – low chilling variety
• Patharanakh (Sand pear), self-pollinated, low chilling variety.
• Gola – low chilling variety
• China pear.
• Variety free form – Grit cell – Flemish beauty, Mangness
• Punjab variety:- 1. Red blush 2. Punjab Gold 3. Punjab nectar.

(C) Hybrid

• Kiffer – cross between French pear X oriental pear self-fruitful; processing suitability, can be grow in South India.

Soil

• Pears require deep (180 cm), heavy loamy soil with high moisture.
• pH – 6.0 – 7.5

Climate

• Grown at altitudes of 1200 to 2250 m above sea level.
• Summer temperatures 27°C to 33°C
• Winter temperatures 7°C or below for 2-3 months.
• Bees are less active at higher altitudes, so cultivation at higher altitudes should be avoided.

Propagation

• Tongue grafting
• The best time for grafting is from May to September.

Planting

• Planting is done from December to January.
• Generally, grafted plants 1 to 3 years old are selected for planting.
• Planting distance kept 5 x 5 m or 7.5 x 7.5 m.
• Pits of 1 m³ size are dug.

Training and Pruning

• The modified centre leader system is the best method for preventing free-sizing by modifying the leader branch (main stem) and lateral branches.
• The best time to prune is January.
• During annual pruning, remove any excess branches, insect- and disease-infested, or dead branches.

Manure and Fertilizers

• 700:350:700 gm/tree/year NPK with 100 kg/tree FYM.
• In North India, compost is applied in December along with phosphatic and potassic fertilizers, but half the nitrogen is applied in February and the remaining half in April after fruit set.

Harvesting

• In Pears, flowering begins in February-March.
• Pear is a climacteric fruit that ripens on the tree and even after harvest.
• ‘Leconte’ and ‘Patharnakh’ varieties are ready for harvesting in 135-138 and 150 days, respectively, after full blooming.
• Pear are hand-harvested using a picker using a wooden ladder.

Yield

• Average yield 25 tons/ha.
• Each ten-year-old tree can produce 75-100 kg of fruit.

Physiological disorder

Premature ripening – Pink colouration near blossom end.

Causes

Night temperatures above 7.1°C, day temperatures above 21°C.

Disease

1. Root rot and Sap Wood Rot

During the rainy season, reddish-brown fruiting bodies appear at the base of the tree. The roots become soft, spongy, and white. A white mycelial mat forms in the cracks in the bark. The pathogen spreads through the soil.

Control

Before the monsoon, mix 10g of Bavestin 50WP + 5g of Vitavax 75%WP in 50 litres of water and apply it to the trunk and drip area.

2. Shoot/Fruit Blight and Bark Canker

Small brown spots first appear, sunken in the centre and raised along the edges, and then enlarge above the surrounding healthy bark. Spurs, branches, and twigs above the canker die. Diseased leaves and fruit turn black.

Control

• Remove bark along with 2 cm of healthy bark.
• Apply Bordeaux paste to the cut area.
• Spray with copper oxychloride 50% in January-March.

Pests

1. Pear Aphid

Affected leaves curl downward at the edges and become cup-shaped.

Control

Spray 1 ml of Metaystox or Rogor per litre of water.

2. Plum Hairy Caterpillar

The larvae are gregarious and feed on leaves in the early stages, but in later stages, they also attack fruits. They scrape away the fruit’s outer layer, causing it to turn black and corky.

Control

Spray 1-2 ml of Endosulphan or Nuvan per litre of water.