Processing Quality of Pear Selections in the Harrow Breeding Program

Abstract

Eighteen advance test selections in the Harrow pear breeding program were compared in processing quality as canned halves and as canned puree to that of ‘Bartlett.’ Processing quality of the selections varied from year to year and selections differed in their relative quality as canned halves and as puree. One selection, HW 606, consistently approached or was better than ‘Bartlett’ in processing quality of canned halves and puree. Other selections, HW 611, HW 612 and HW 614, were also consistently high in canning quality but only approached that of ‘Bartlett’. The selections, HW 613 and HW 614, consistently approached ‘Bartlett’ in puree quality but did not equal it. All selections were considerably more fire blight resistant than ‘Bartlett’ on the basis of evaluations of natural infections and artificial fire blight inoculations.