Asian pear tree named `Asio 5`

Abstract

A new and distinct cultivar of Asian Pear tree is provided. The new cultivar forms attractive excellent quality late mid-season large to extra-large truncate to oblate fruit having a uniform russet surface with prominent tan lenticels and a very sweet rich flavor. The tree is medium to large-sized and possesses a vigorous well-branched spreading growth habit. The leaves are medium green in coloration and possess pinnate venation and an acuminate apex. The fruit of the new cultivar has been found to be capable of storage for a longer period of time than most Asian Pear cultivars.

Description

[0001]Botanical / commercial classification: Pyrus pyrifolia / Asian Pear.[0002]Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Asio 5’.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention is a new and distinct Asian Pear cultivar.[0004]The new cultivar was discovered as a distinctive seedling that germinated in 1983 in a test orchard at 1506 Pleasant View Road, Coopersburg, Pa., U.S.A. The new cultivar was discovered among thousands of seedlings that were produced for test purposes. The seed that produced the new cultivar of the present cultivar was obtained from Japan and was formed on open-pollinated Asian Pear trees. It is impossible to further identify the parent plants of the new cultivar. A single tree of the new cultivar was discovered following selective study and initially was designated No. 1130.[0005]The original tree of the new cultivar first fruited in 1990 and has thereafter annually produced a crop of high quality Asian Pears.[0006]It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention:...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]When compared to the ‘Olympic’ cultivar (non-patented in the United States), the new cultivar tends to bear similar-sized fruit having a more truncate shape. The surface fruit coloration is more uniform than that of the ‘Olympic’ cultivar and the fruit of the new cultivar is optimally harvested when the surface coloration in orange in hue. In contrast it has been found that the fruit of the ‘Olympic’ cultivar is over mature when it begins to turn red. The fruit flesh of the new cultivar is smoother in texture than that of the ‘Olympic’ cultivar and is comparable in crispness and juiciness. Also, the fruit of the new cultivar has been found to be capable of storage for a longer time than most other Asian Pear cultivars. For instance, the fruit of the new cultivar has been found to store well at 32° F. for up to approximately five months without breakdown and only slight skin shriveling. The new cultivar has been observed to be susceptible to pear scab and fireblight.

[0011]Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by budding on ‘Bartlett’, ‘OHxF 97’ and Pyrus betulafolia rootstocks (each non-patented in the United States) carried out at Aspers, Pa., U.S.A., beginning in 1993, and at Geneva, N.Y., U.S.A., beginning in 1997, has demonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar as described herein are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

Problems solved by technology

It is impossible to further identify the parent plants of the new cultivar.