Compatibility and cropping performance of four Asian pear (Pyrus serotina Redher var. culta Rehder) cultivars as pollenisers for the cultivar ‘Hosui’ in the Waikato region, New Zealand

Abstract

The Japanese Asian Pear (Pyrus serotina Rehder var. culta Rehder) cultivars ‘Hayatama’, ‘Hokkan’, and ‘Hokuho’ and the Korean cultivar ‘Danbai’ were evaluated as potential pollenisers for the cultivar ‘Hosui’ during the 1989–90 season in the Waikato region, New Zealand. Greater than 13 days flowering overlap was observed between all polleniser cultivars and ‘Hosui’. All cultivar combinations tested were compatible, except for ‘Hokuho’ × ‘Hosui’ and ‘Danbai’ × ‘Danbai’. ‘Danbai’ may have high potential as a polleniser for ‘Hosui’ in the Waikato.

Keywords:

• Asian pear
• nashi
• Pyrus serotina
• pollination
• compatibility