RESPONSE OF PEAR GENOTYPES TO PSYLLA SP. ATTACK IN CENTRAL TRANSYLVANIA, ROMANIA

The response of different pear genotypes to Psylla sp. (Cacopsylla) attack in natural conditions of infestation was studied in the experimental field of Cluj-Napoca Fruit Research Station, Romania, on more than 10,000 cultivars, selections, and hybrids.
Most cultivars were susceptible to Psylla attack, including the most important and widely spread in Transylvania: ‘Williams’, ‘Conference’, ‘Beurré Bosc’, ‘Beurré Hardy’, ‘Clapp’s Favorite’, ‘Curé’, etc., which represent more than 80% of the total cultivars and selections analyzed.
Several cultivars were identified as weakly susceptible: ‘Cantari’, ‘Imperiale’, ‘Lorencz Kovacs’, ‘Triomphe de Jodoigne’, ‘Severianka’ etc., most of them being ancient cultivars, with a poor productivity and quality and susceptibility to scab (Venturia pirina). One of the cultivar released at Cluj-Napoca, named ‘Haydeea’, expressed a good response in conditions of very severe Psylla attack.
In a comparative trial, ‘Haydeea’ had a fruit yield significantly higher than other cultivars and selections.
The vegetation of ‘Haydeea’ was relatively normal, while the trees of other cultivars had few fruits and lost their foliage.
After a heavy infestation period with Psylla sp., severe symptoms of tree scorching were noticed.
The cultivar, together with the rootstock and the cultivar x rootstock combination, had a significant influence upon the expression of pear tree scorching, consecutive to the infestation with Cacopsylla.

XII EUCARPIA Symposium on Fruit Breeding and Genetics

R. Sestras, C. Botez, M. Ardelean, I. Oltean, A. Sestras

breeding, genotypes, pear, psylla, resistance

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.814.144