Selection of pollinator cultivars for pear trees in a subtropical climate

Abstract

The economic exploration of pear in the subtropical areas is possible when using hybrid cultivars obtained by crossing European (Pyrus communis) and Asian cultivars (Pyrus pyrifolia). Genetic improvement programs in Brazil have launched some cultivars in recent decades. Pear requires cross-pollination to improve fruit set in commercial plantations. In the case of these hybrid pear trees, the combinations of pollen receptor and donor cultivars that are best for cultivation in subtropical regions are not known. The objective of this study was to select cultivars with the potential to be pollinators of pear trees in subtropical regions. Four cultivars that received pollen grains (mother plants) ('Packham's Triumph', 'Tenra', 'Triunfo', and 'Seleta') and three donors ('Cascatense', 'Primorosa', and 'Shinseiki') were used. Stigmatic receptivity was observed in all cultivars during all stages of reproductive development. All cultivars had highly viable pollen grains. The cultivar 'Seleta' was the best recipient cultivar. The 'Seleta' × 'Shinseiki' cross showed the highest percentages of fruiting.The highest percentages of pistils with pollen tubes reaching the ovary were observed in the crosses 'Triunfo' × 'Shinseiki' and 'Seleta' × 'Shinseiki'. The 'Shinseiki' pear is an option as a pollinator of crops in subtropical regions.