APPLE AND PEAR CULTIVARS OF PIEMONTE (ITALY) IN POMOLOGICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF 18TH AND 19TH CENTURIES

Apple and pear have been grown in Piemonte (Northern Italy) for centuries.
Many old local varieties are still known in this area either because they are grown in small orchards or collected as germplasm resource.

The present work examines some pomological descriptions of apples and pears made in the past centuries to ascertain which varieties were cultivated in this region and which of them are still grown.

This study shows that apple and pear growing was based on a considerably high number of varieties.
These were normally divided in two groups on the basis of fruit aptitude: fresh consumption or cooking.

The precise descriptions of the cultivars, completed with fine drawings, make the identification of some of them with still-existing cultivars reasonably sure.

Some cultivars were found to be known in the past both in Italy and in other countries and this suggests an active exchange of vegetal material across the Alps.
Reinette (many types) and Calville apples, Martin sec, Beurre, Bergamotte, and St.
Germain pears are the most common cultivars found.

Some cases of uncertain identification are also discussed.

Horticulture in Human life, Culture and Environment

L. Radicati, I. Martino, G. Vergano

Apple, Malus pumila Mill., Pear, Pirus communis L., Pomological description, Germplasm

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1995.391.28