Event flush with new blush pear research

At a recent blush pear research event at the Agriculture Victoria Blush Pear field laboratory at Tatura, pear producers were provided with results from post-harvest ripening and storage experiments conducted at the AgriBio Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora. 

Pear growers learnt about the latest research on blush pear varieties at an event in Tatura, Victoria.

These results provided producers with a clear understanding of how the fruit will behave in storage, as there is a major focus on exporting this fruit to Asia. Much of this research is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Apple and Pear Fund and funded by Hort Innovation using the apple and pear levy and funds from the Australian Government.

Dr Rod Jones, Senior Research Scientist – Plant Physiology with Agriculture Victoria Research, spoke about two of the blush pear varieties, summarised as follows:

ANP-0118 (Lanya™)

• ANP-0118 (Lanya™) is harvested around the same time as Williams – from late December to early February depending on the season.
• First harvest at a firmness of 4.6–3 kilogram-force (kgf) (as measured by a penetrometer), then harvest for seven days after first harvest. Fruit softens quickly in storage if harvested at <3.0kgf firmness.
• There is a strong correlation between firmness and DA meter readings. Ideal harvest maturity is when DA reading is between 1.2 and 1.0, correlating with a firmness of 4.6–3kgf.
• ANP-0118 requires storage for 10 to 16 weeks at -0.5 to 0.5^oC in controlled atmosphere (1.5% O²/1.5% CO²) to improve sweetness and induce correct melting of the flesh – similar to Corella and Packham.
• It can be consumed either as a crisp or softened pear depending on the consumers’
• ANP-0118 is prone to superficial scald when stored for more than 20 weeks in air at -0.5^oC, but stored well with minimal quality loss for 28 weeks at 0.5^oC in controlled atmosphere.

ANP-0131 (Deliza™)

• ANP-0131 (Deliza™) is best harvested at the same time as Packhams, usually in late January to early March.
• First harvest at a firmness of 5.4–7kgf, then harvest for seven days after first harvest.
• There is a poor correlation between firmness and DA meter readings. It is best to judge harvest time based on firmness.
• ANP-0131 stores well for up to eight months in air at -0.5^oC and 10 months under controlled atmosphere of 1.5% CO²/1.5% O² when picked at 4.7–4kgf.
• No storage disorders were observed.

Two more events are planned for November 2017 and February 2018 looking at consumer preference research across Asia, measuring maturity in the field, irrigation, tree training systems, summer pruning, various cultivars, and more.

APAL has been granted the commercialisation licence for both pears and will issue sub-licenses to grow, market and sell them.

“The new blush pear varieties offer a significant improvement in visual quality over varieties currently available,” says Andrew Mandemaker, Quality Project Manager, APAL. “The orchard walk gave growers an opportunity to see and hear first-hand the research that is currently underway, including encouraging consumer preference data from research conducted in Asia.”

More information

Mark Hincksman, Agriculture Victoria, 03 8427 2389, [email protected]