Pear Masterclass – Storage rots in pears

June 2018 | Presented by Marcel Veens | Pear Masterclass

Storage rots can turn apparently sound pears into post-harvest losses, making disease prevention an orchard-to-storage issue rather than a problem that begins only after fruit enters the coolroom. In this Pear Masterclass presentation, Marcel Veens reviews the factors that influence rot development and the practical points where risk can be reduced.

The presentation connects orchard sanitation, fruit condition, harvest handling and storage management. Wounds and latent infections can become more important during storage, so careful picking and handling, sound hygiene and appropriate post-harvest conditions all contribute to reducing losses.

For pear growers and packers, the resource reinforces that good outturn starts before harvest. The most effective strategy is a coordinated program that limits infection pressure, avoids unnecessary fruit damage and maintains suitable storage conditions through the supply chain.

For library users, this resource is most useful as a record of the technical thinking and field evidence available at the time. Product registrations, resistance advice and regional pest pressure can change, so any present-day control decision should be checked against current labels and local recommendations while retaining the monitoring and decision-making principles described here.