DWARFING IN PEAR

This trait was studied in a multiparameter trial designed to develop trees that are not overly dwarf, i.e. with intermediate characteristics.The progeny from the crosses Nain Vert x US 309, Sirrine x Abbé Fétèl and Abbé Fétèl x (Comice x Nain Vert) were tested for the following: leaf area, chlorophyll content, branch length, section and the ratio branch lenght to section area, and average internode.

Only chlorophyll and internode length show a separated scale rancing from dwarf to standard.

It was determined from principal components of multivariate analyses that plant growth habit is mainly affected by leaf area, chlorophyll content and branch vigour.
Taken together, the variables point to a continuous scale ranging from dwarf to standard.
Dwarfing of pear trees is considered a monogenic character associated with the polygenic trait of plant vigour.

V International Symposium on Pear Growing

G.L. Bagnara, L. Rivalta

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1989.256.11