‘Sooyoung’: A Mid-Season Pear ( Pyrus PyrifoliaNakai) Cultivar With High Soluble Solids and Medium Size

Abstract

'Sooyoung' pear ( Pyrus pyrifoliaNakai) originated from a cross between ‘Niitaka’ and ‘Soohwangbae’ made in 1989 at the National Horticultural Research Institute of the Rural Development Administration in Korea. It was first selected as ‘89-24-6’ in 1994 for its high fruit quality with good eating characteristics for a mid-season cultivar. After regional adaptability tests at 10 sites for 8 years from 1999 to 2006 as 'Wonkyo Na-36', it was named in 2006. It blooms three days later than 'Niitaka', a leading pear cultivar in Korea. 'Sooyoung' is medium in tree vigor and upright-spreading in tree habit. 'Sooyoung' is classified as susceptible to pear scab ( Venturia nashicola) like ‘Niitaka’. ‘Sooyoung’ is pollen incompatible with 'Hanareum' but it is cross-compatible with ‘Niitaka’ and ‘Wonwhang’. The optimum harvest time of ‘Sooyoung’ was Sept. 30, 8 days earlier than 'Niitaka'. The fruit is roundish oblate in shape and bright yellowish green in skin color. Average fruit weight is 429 g and soluble solids content is 15.0°Brix. The fruit flesh juiciness is medium-high and it has negligible grit.