Evaluation of oriental pear germplasm under sub-tropical conditions

Strain I was the most vigorous which recorded maximum tree height, spread and volume. This strain also attained highest trunk girth. The least vigorous was found to be strain VIII, which had the minimum tree height, spread and volume. The earliest leaf fall was started in strain III and late in strain I. The bud sprouting took place during 4^th-13^th February in different strains. The date of leaf emergence ranged during 11^th - 19^th February, being earliest in strain I and late in strain IV. The end of leaf emergence took place during 1^st week of April. The average duration of leaf emergence was longest in strain II and shortest in strain VIII. Flowering was noticed earliest in strain I while it was observed late in strain VII. In all strains, full bloom occurred around last week of February being earliest in strain I. The flowering was completed earliest in strain VII and late in strain III. However, the yield per tree was highest in strain I followed by strain II. Fruit weight ranged from 142.06 to 171.40 g with maximum in strain II and minimum in strain V. Similar trend was observed in fruit length which was maximum in strain II, while breadth was maximum in strain VIII. The firmness of the fruits in terms of kg/cm² was 5.55 in strain V and 4.74 in strain II. All the strains had high percentage of juice content being maximum in strain II and minimum in strain VII. Highest TSS (12.45 per cent) and lowest acidity (0.281 per cent) were recorded in strain VII and strain II, respectively. The TSS: acid ratio was the highest in strain II. The total sugars were highest in strain V followed by strain I. However, reducing sugars ranged between 4.38 to 4.86 per cent with maximum in strain IV and minimum in strain V. Overall, strains I and Il were found to be outstanding under sub-tropical conditions.