Pear Melitopolskaya Soshchaya

Early-ripening variety, developed at the Ukrainian Institute of Irrigated Horticulture. Breeders: P. V. Grozdetsky, I. N. Boyko, E. M. Avramenko, P. I. Kulikov, I. N. Maksimova. Parental forms are unknown. The variety was tested and approved in the North Caucasus region.

Moderate-growth tree with a rounded-pyramidal, sparse crown and hanging thin branches. Fruiting primarily occurs on spurs and shoots.

Fruits are above average size (up to 200 g), broad pear-shaped, slightly warty. Skin is shiny, smooth, tender, thin, but tough; dark green during harvest ripeness, turning light yellow with a faint pink blush on the sun-exposed side upon full ripening. Numerous lenticels, black and clearly visible. Small calyx, closed.

Fruits are very attractive.

Flesh is creamy-white, very tender, juicy, pleasantly tart-sweet, with good flavor. Contains 16.2% dry matter, 9.8% sugars, 0.23% titratable acids, 5.6 mg/100g ascorbic acid, 28.4 mg/100g raw mass of P-active catechins.

Harvest ripeness occurs in the second decade of July. Transportability is moderate.

Fruits can be stored for up to 10 days.

Trees begin fruiting in the 6th to 8th year after planting in orchards. Fruit production is annual and moderate. Winter hardiness is good, drought resistance is moderate, and susceptibility to scab is low.

Advantages of the variety: good winter hardiness, fruit flavor and commercial quality.

Disadvantages of the variety: moderate drought resistance, low tree yield, moderate transportability, and short fruit consumption period.