Asian Pear: A Potential Alternative Fruit Crop for Growers in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Production of European pears (Pyrus communis L.) in the Eastern United States is limited by a number of physiological and pathological problems.  In an attempt to expand sustainable pear production in that region, a series of long-term field trials of Asian pear [Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm. F) Nak. (syn. P. serotina L.)] were established at two sites in Maryland.  To compare precocity, productivity, and survival, nine Asian pear cultivars and three European cultivars were planted in 2010 at the Wye Research and Education Center.  Asian pears were precocious and productive and many trees flowered and fruited in the second leaf.  After the fourth leaf, survival of ‘Isi’iwasi’, ‘Shinsui’, ‘Kosui’ and ‘Olympic’ was good.  Many ‘Hosui’ and ‘Ya Li’ (Asian pear) trees as well as ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Golden Russett’ (European pear) trees had died at that point, following bloom infections of fire blight (Erwinia amylovora).  Eighteen pear cultivars in two established plantings were evaluated for their field-tolerance to fire blight following a severe hailstorm at Keedysville.   The cultivars ‘Shin Li’, ‘Daisu Li’, ‘Shinsui’, and ‘Olympic’ fared as well as ‘Magness’, a fire blight-tolerant European pear that served as a benchmark in that evaluation.  On the other hand, ‘Hosui’, ‘Choju’, ‘Kosui’, ‘Seigyoku’, ‘Ya Li’ and ‘Ts’e Li’ were severely damaged. Using fruit from the replicated trial at Wye, consumer tastings were also conducted. In these tastings, ‘Yoinashi’, ‘Atago’, ‘Shinko’, and ‘Olympic’ were well-received by consumers.  After tasting Asian pears, most people reported that they would be interested in purchasing the fruit and asked for the names of local producers, even those less familiar with the crop.  Based on our long-term research results, there appears to be a good opportunity for locally-produced Asian pear fruit.  With the correct cultivar selection for fire blight management, local growers should be able to produce this alternative crop sustainably and market their fruit profitably.