Variety traits

Pear Storage Life

Pyrus communis L.

The ability of pear fruits to maintain their commercial and organoleptic qualities after harvest, determined by a set of indicators: storage duration, marketable yield, and flesh firmness.

In the reference 216 varieties crop European pear, where this is mentioned in the description.

To evaluate storage life, pear fruits are placed in conditions with a temperature from 0 to +4°C and a humidity of 85–90%. The primary marker of fruit senescence is the decrease in flesh firmness, measured by a penetrometer in kg/cm². Varieties are classified into summer ones with a storage period of up to 15 days, and autumn and winter ones, which are capable of being stored for 5–6 months.

The harvest timing is a critical factor: early harvesting leads to shriveling and poor taste, while late harvesting leads to over-ripening and fruit drop. The level of storage life depends on mineral nutrition, where potassium improves storability, while an excess of nitrogen reduces it. This trait is quantitatively inherited, which complicates the breeding process.

General information about the subject — on the page Keeping quality.

Sources8

Varieties of European pear mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.