PE3UNIBO* Debby Green™ is a new pear variety whose harvest date is the first decade of August (few days before William).
| Variety denomination | PE3UNIBO |
|---|---|
| Thematic area | Plant varieties |
| Ownership | ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA' DI BOLOGNA |
| Breeders | Vincenzo Ancarani, Stefano Musacchi, Silviero Sansavini |
| Protection | European Community, United States |
| Licensing status | Rights of multiplication, production and marketing not yet licensed. |
| Species | Pyrus communis L. |
The new pear variety PE3UNIBO* Debby GreenTM comes from a genetic improvement programme which began in the 1990s. Today over 23,000 seedlings have been obtained from 276 cross-breeding combinations (of which 69 for resistance to disease and insects). From the work carried out in recent years on the seedlings from the first cross-breeding session in 1990-93, 389 genotypes were identified, taken to phase S2 (multiplied and assessed on small plots of 3-5 trees); of these, 49 were taken to a subsequent evaluation phase (on larger plots and in different growing conditions). Finally, for four selections it was possible to envisage further developments which led to the application for protection with applications for plant variety rights on 8 April 2014 (PE1UNIBO, PE2UNIBO. PE3UNIBO, PE4UNIBO). Since 2007, the genetic improvement activities on pears at the University of Bologna have also been supported by cooperation with CIV (Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti) from S. Giuseppe di Comacchio (Ferrara) with whom the commercial strategies will be decided.
- Tree: medium-high vigour, upright growth, good affinity with quince. Medium-high, constant cropping.
- Flowering: Medium-late flowering, a few days after Williams.
- Time of maturity: The fruit ripens intermediately, in the first decade of August on average 1 days before Williams.
- Fruit: medium in size; slightly polymorphic appearance with fruits from pyriform to elongated pyriform; medium length, medium thickness stalk. Pale green skin even when ripe, with red over-colour on up to 30% of the surface on exposed fruits. Creamy white, fine tender flesh, juicy when ripe. Good, acidic flavour. The fruits have shown good ripening resistance on the plant, guaranteeing a broad harvesting window and good shelf-life in cold storage (5 months at -1°C in normal atmosphere).
- Agronomic evaluation: The bearing habit is on shoots on 2-3 year old branches and, partly, on sprigs.
Patents and Trade Marks:
- Community plant variety right application (EU plant variety rights, c/o CPVO) no. 2014/0971 held by Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna. EU trade mark Debby Green™ no. 013234761/2014 filed by the University of Bologna.
- Sansavini S., Musacchi S., Ancarani V., 2002. Four new varieties by the University of Bologna. Frutticoltura. n. 10-2013: 20-24.