Breeding of a Very Soft, Juicy, Large Sized, and High Quality Mid-season Pear Cultivar 'Manpungbae'

Abstract

‘Manpungbae’ originated from the cross between ‘Hosui’בOkusankichi’ in 1982 at Naju Pear Research Institute was preliminarily selected in 1990, and named in 1997. The tree shows vigorous growth and upright-spreading habit, and high level of field resistance to black leaf spot (Alternaria kikuchiana). It carries rich pollen grains but shows cross-incompatibility with ‘Wonwhang’. Optimum harvest date is around Sept. 23, 7 days earlier than that of ‘Niitaka’. The fruit shape is oblate and the skin color is greenish yellowish brown at normal harvesting time because the fruit ripens before the skin pigmentation. However, fully ripened fruit has yellowish brown skin color. Fruit weighs about 768 g, and the soluble solid content is 13.1 Bx. The flesh has negligible amount of grit, which is very soft and juicy, and thus it has good eating quality. Shelf-life is relatively short under the room temperature as compared with other mid-season cultivars, Therefore, immediate shipment after harvesting would be desirable.