Alexanderin Dulyar

Autumn French variety, developed by Dulyar in 1849 in Nantes (France). Approved for cultivation in the Krasnodar region since 1987 in the Kuban zone (central subzone) and the Predgornaya zone (southeastern subzone), in southern regions of Ukraine, and in recent years cultivated extensively in France.

Medium-growing tree with a sparse pyramidal crown. Branches are curved and bent.

Fruits are above average size and larger, with an average weight of 180 g and maximum up to 300 g, pear-shaped, with a bumpy surface. Skin is shiny, thin, light green at the beginning of ripening, slightly oily to the touch, yellow at maturity, with small gray spots and rust-colored spots near the stem, and on well-lit fruits, develops a reddish blush. Stem is long, straight or slightly curved, brown, inserted upright or obliquely with a small flared end. Calyx is small, narrow, with wavy edges. Receptacle is medium-sized, with slightly wrinkled edges, and the calyx is half-closed, in a shallow depression.

Flesh is white, tender, juicy, slightly acidic-sweet, with a strong pleasant aroma, good taste (4.1–4.5 points).

Fruits contain 20.8% soluble solids, 12.5% sugars, 0.21% titratable acids, 6.7 mg/100g ascorbic acid, and 64.4 mg/100g raw material of P-active catechins.

Fruits are harvested at technical maturity, ripening at the end of September and lasting two to three weeks; upon overripening, the flesh becomes soft and spongy. In refrigeration, fruits store for 100–120 days. Under favorable conditions, fruit quality is high: fruits are large, attractive in appearance, and have a dessert-like flavor. Freshly harvested fruits are well-suited for transportation.

Trees of the Alexanderin Dulyar variety are better suited for planting in sheltered areas from wind due to the tendency of fruits to drop during ripening. On pear rootstocks, the variety enters fruiting at 5–6 years. It adapts well and grows on apple rootstocks, beginning fruiting at the fourth year, quickly increasing yield, and by the 10th–12th year, average yield per tree is 35–50 kg. Yield is good and fairly regular.

Winter hardiness is fairly good, and flowers are weakly sensitive to frost. Susceptibility to scab is 3–4 points, significantly affected by anthracnose — 2–3 points.

Advantages of the variety: good compatibility with apple rootstocks, high fruit quality.

Disadvantages of the variety: significant susceptibility of fruits to fungal diseases, short fruit storage life.

Using the Alexanderin Dulyar variety, a new selection variety was developed by the State Selection Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Crops, Levon (Alexanderin Dulyar Ch Bere Napoleon), currently undergoing state testing.