ISHS Acta Horticulturae 587: International Symposium on Asian Pears, Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Nijisseiki Pear
THE POSITION OF PEAR BREEDING AND CULTURE IN IRAN: INTRODUCTION OF SOME ASIAN PEAR (PYRUS SEROTINA REHD.) CULTIVARS |
| Author: | K. Arzani |
| Keywords: | Asian pear, Pyrus serotina Rehd, European pear, Pyrus communis L., Breeding, Iran |
| Abstract:
Pear (Pyrus communis L.) is an important fruit of temperate regions of Iran and grown for its desirable taste and commercial value. According to recent statistics the area of pear culture in Iran consists of 19,219 hectares with production of about 180,000 tonnes. Most pear orchards in Iran are located in Tehran (Karaj), Khorasan, Isfahan, East and West Azarbayjan and Ghazvin province. More than 26% of the pear orchards are located in Tehran province with 64,741 tonnes annual production. More than 70 pear cultivars are available in the Kamal-Abad collection orchard, located at the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Ministry of Agriculture 50 km west of Tehran. The objectives of the pear breeding program in Iran are: improving the gene pool of pear by introducing some foreign genotypes; breeding for production of better fruit quality; improving tree performance under drought conditions; and resistance to fire blight. In addition, the Iranian fruit industry is not experienced in the culture and production of Asian (Japanese) pear cultivars (Pyrus serotina Rehd.). In order to achieve these objectives and with the aim of evaluating some Asian pear cultivars under different climatic conditions of Iran, a national research project proposal was submitted to the National Research Council of Iran (NRCI) in 1997. Phase 1 of the project (Germplasm introduction and propagation) started in 1998 with introduction of nine varieties of Asian pear from Belgium. The varieties were named ‘KS6’, ‘KS7’, ‘KS8’, ‘KS9’, ‘KS10’, ‘KS11’, ‘KS12’, ‘KS13’ and ‘KS14’. These varieties were budded on pear and quince seedlings for further quarantine inspection and propagation. Research is being continued on propagation aspects including cuttings and budding on pear and quince rootstocks as well as micropropagation via shoot-tip-culture at TMU and for quarantine purposes in the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII) quarantine glasshouses. In addition, research will be conducted to study rootstock effects, such as their adaptation to the soil and climatic conditions of the country, in order to improve resource utilization such as water and fertilizer. Studies on the adaptation of the Asian pear cultivars under four different geographic locations in Iran including Isfahan, Mashhad, Ormieh and Karaj, will be examined in phase 2 of this project. An evaluation of the vegetative and reproductive characteristics of the experimental trees on local rootstocks will also be performed. | |
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