Breeder Information

Pear Cultivation

Production Amount; Our country ranks 10th in world pear production with approximately 360,000 tons and 4th in terms of planting area. In recent years, garden establishments with dense planting with seedlings grafted onto clone rootstocks have become widespread in our country.

Soil and Climate Requirements; Due to its wide adaptation ability, pears have found the opportunity to grow in different ecological regions of our country. Pear is a species that is less resistant to cold than apples and has a higher temperature requirement. It does not like heavy, airless, alkaline soils with high lime content. Deep, organic matter-rich, permeable soils should be preferred. The total cooling requirement of pears below 7.2 ºC is between 800-2100 hours depending on the variety. Early varieties with low cooling needs should be grown in the 300-800 m altitude areas of the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, while other varieties should be grown in transition and inland regions.

Use of Rootstock; With the use of dwarf and semi-dwarf clone rootstocks such as BA -29, OHF-333, MC, Quince-A, Sydo, Farold 40, Farold 69 and Pyro-Dwarf developed in recent years, dense planting pear cultivation has become widespread in lands with different soil and ecological structures. In the selection of the rootstock to be used and the variety to be grown, the soil analysis data of the land and the climate data of that region should be taken into consideration. It is possible to establish gardens at 4×1.2m and 4×1.5m intervals and distances on dwarf rootstocks, 5×2.5-5x3m on semi-dwarf rootstocks, 6×6m on pear seedlings, and 4×3m on quince seedlings.

Important Varieties and Variety Selection; Akça, Etruska, June Beauty, Santa Maria, Williams, Kiefer, Abate Fetel, Comice, Conference, Beurre Hardy, Passe Cressane, Ankara and Deveci are important pear varieties.

It is necessary to keep a certain amount of early, autumn and winter varieties in the garden establishment and to take into account the winter cooling needs of the varieties. Due to the incompatibility of pear varieties with themselves, it is mandatory to plant 10-15% of the seedlings of the pollinator variety.

Training System; Peak branch, modified leader, cord training systems are used in pear cultivation. With the use of wire support system and cord training system with 4-4.5m distances between rows and 1.2-1.5m distances on rows on semi-dwarf rootstocks, dense planting garden establishments are made as in apples.

Diseases and Pests; Fire blight, powdery mildew, breast rust are important pear diseases. Fire blight disease caused by the bacteria Ervinia Amylovor is the most important factor limiting pear cultivation. In regions where this disease is frequently seen, resistant or partially resistant varieties should be preferred, and pear-based rootstocks should be selected instead of quince rootstocks.

Important pear pests are; pear inner worm, pear leafhopper, pear leech and scale insects.

 

Peach Cultivation

Production Quantity; Approximately 532,000 tons of peaches are produced annually in our country. With nectarines included, this production reaches 608,000 tons, placing Turkey sixth in the world. China ranks first with nearly 12 million tons of production, followed by Italy, Spain, the USA, and Greece.

Soil and Climate Requirements; While the main branches and trunks of peaches and nectarines can withstand temperatures down to -20ºC, flowers are damaged at -2 to -4ºC in early spring. Young fruits are more sensitive to frost than flowers. Peaches can be grown in the Aegean, Marmara, Mediterranean, and Southeastern Anatolia regions at altitudes up to 800 meters. Chilling requirements range from 350 to 1300 hours. Light, well-drained, sandy-loam, alluvial soils with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5 are most suitable for peach cultivation.

Rootstock Use; For peaches and nectarines, seedling rootstocks of certain varieties, such as Nemaguard and GF-305, which are nematode-resistant, are used. In recent years, especially in soils with nematode problems and active lime content above 10%, GF 677, GF 557, Gadaman, GN-15, and GN-22 peach-almond hybrid rootstocks are used. These rootstocks can develop under limited irrigation conditions and are also resistant to root-knot nematodes.

If peaches are to be grown in heavy soils (soils with water retention capacity above 70%), orchards should be established with seedlings grafted onto Myrobalan 29-C, Marianna, Saint Julien-A MR.S-2/5 plum clonal rootstocks and the plum-peach hybrid Citation clonal rootstock. However, incompatibility can be observed on plums in some peach varieties. Peach orchards should be established with spacing and distances of 6x5m and 5x5m on peach seedlings, 5x4m on GF 677 and Gadaman peach-almond rootstocks, and 5x3m on Myrobalan 29 C and Saint Julien-A rootstocks.

Training Systems; The goblet training system, also known as open vase training, is the most commonly applied system in peaches. In addition, V, Y (tatura), and various central leader training systems are used.

Important Peach Varieties; Important varieties from early to late include Francoise, Rich May, Springcrest, Maycrest, Royal Gem, Rich Lady, Blazing Gold, Redhaven, Glohaven, Red Globe, Rome Star, Elegant Lady, J.H. Hale, Monroe, Rio Oso Gem, and Red Star.

Important Nectarine Varieties; May Glo, May Free, Big Bang Silver King, Super Red, Armking, Adriana, Silver Splended, Caldesi 2000, Big Top, Star Red Gold, Fantasia, Venus, Morsiani -51, Silver Late, Fairlane, Caldesi 85, Caldesi 2020.

Diseases and Pests: Aphids, scale insects, Mediterranean fruit fly, Oriental fruit moth, and root-knot nematodes are important pests. Root cancer, powdery mildew, monilia, leaf spot, leaf curl, plum dwarf virus, PDV, CNRV (Clorotic Necrotic Ring Spot Virus), and Sharka virus (PPV) are among the important diseases.