Winter Pear

Winter variety selected by R. V. Korenev and L. K. Zhukova (Dubovsky Selection Station for Fruit Crops, NVNIIHS) obtained by pollinating Volga Bergamot with a pollen mixture (Williams + Klappa's Favorite). Approved for the Lower Volga region. Widely grown in Volgograd Oblast.

Trees medium-sized, with raised broad-pyramidal crowns. Good branching capacity.

Branches medium-sized, straight or arc-shaped, brownish-gray, bare. Leaves small, egg-shaped, long-pointed, light green, smooth, matte, with delicate venation. Leaf blade concave, curved downward, hairless. Leaf margin wavy, serrated. Petiole long, medium thickness, bare. Stipules small, lanceolate.

Fruits above average, weighing 150-200 g, cube-shaped, regular in form. Skin coarse, smooth, dull. Color at harvest time: main green, covering color as a dull, blurred pink blush on some part of the fruit. As fruits ripen, main color becomes golden-yellow, covering color turns into a small, bright, blurred raspberry blush. Under-skin dots (during storage) numerous, small, gray, barely noticeable. Pedicel medium in length and thickness, curved, oblique. Absence of depression. Calyx open or semi-open. Receptacle shallow, broad, ribbed. Heart small, bulbous. Chambers small, closed. Subcalyx tube short, bowl-shaped.

Flesh white, medium density, juicy, slightly acidic-sweet, aromatic, very good taste. Fruits contain 14.8% dry matter, 11.9% sugars, 0.12% acids, 4.35 mg/100g ascorbic acid.

Harvesting maturity occurs at the beginning of October; consumer maturity in December.

Fruits can be stored until March. Trees begin fruiting on the 6th-7th year after planting as one-year saplings. High and annual yield. Cold and drought resistance of the variety are high. Above-ground parts and fruit buds remain undamaged even in severe winters (1968-1969, 1978-1979). Not affected by scab or only slightly affected.

Advantages of the variety: high ecological resistance, high and regular yields, fruit quality for market and consumer use, and relatively long storage life.

Disadvantages of the variety: relatively late fruiting.