'Danhua xiangshuili'a new pear that does not need fruit thinning

Abstract

Fruit thinning is a cultural practice used to improve fruit quality and size, but it is time-consuming. The application of thinning chemicals to replace hand-thinning is costly and results in an unstable effect. It also causes environmental concerns. 'Danhua Xiangshuili' is a bud mutation of 'Yanbian Daxiangshui' discovered in experimental orchards at the Pomology Institute, Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Jilin Province (latitude 43.5N, longitude 124.8E). Overall, 92% of flowers born on this cultivar are solitary and about 8% are in groups of two or three flowers on each inflorescence. Fruits are medium to large (144 g) in size and born on twigs with no leaves, which helps produce a full-colored pear at ripening. The soluble solid content is 13.0% at maturity, which occurs on 10 Sept. in the Gongzhuling area (latitude 43N, longitude 124E). © 2008 by The Haworth Press.