Zhegalkova's Pear

Late-autumn variety developed by the K. A. Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy through crossing of the varieties Olga and Lesnaya Krasavitsa. Authors: S. T. Chizhov, S. P. Potapov. Approved and widely grown in the Central region of Russia.

Medium-sized tree. Young crown is bowl-shaped; at full fruiting, it is oval-rounded, slightly less dense than average, with moderate leafiness. Bark of trunk is gray, bark of skeletal branches is light-gray. Skeletal branches are inclined vertically. Buds are sessile. Bud dormancy is moderate. Branching ability is weak.

Shoots are brown, curved, medium length and thickness, round in cross-section, internodes medium length, no pubescence. Stipules are small, convex, average number. Buds are offset, conical, dark brown. Leaves are medium-sized, elongated-oval, dark green, curved along central vein, elastic (leathery), medium thickness, smooth. Leaf margin is serrated, no pubescence on upper or lower surface. Petiole is medium length.

Inflorescence — shield-shaped raceme, average number of flowers (5-7). Flowers are medium-sized, cup-shaped, white, petal margins entire, petal closure moderate, buds white.

Fruits of medium size, 120-130 g, reverse-egg or double-conical shape, smooth surface. Skin is thin, medium density, smooth, glossy, sometimes slightly oily. Main color is greenish-yellow, covering color is weakly expressed, dull red, blurred. Subcutaneous dots are weakly expressed, small, numerous. Rust is weak, tender. Pedicel is medium length and thickness. Calyx is small, narrow. Receptacle is small, narrow, with weakly ribbed surface. Calyx is open. Subcalyx tube is medium-sized. Axial cavity is medium. Heart is oval, small, granulation small. Number of seeds in fruit is average (5-10), seeds medium-sized, dark brown.

Flesh is light-yellow or whitish, very juicy, melting, oily, medium-grained, good tart-sweet taste, aromatic. Fruit appearance is attractive (4.2-4.3 points). Taste evaluation: 4.1-4.3 points. Chemical composition of fruit: 16.6% dry matter, 14.1% soluble solids, 9.2% sugars, 0.41% acids, 212 mg/100g P-active substances.

Late-autumn variety. Maximum storage life of fruit is 100-120 days (at 0°C). Fruit drop is weak. Commercial and transportability are moderate.

Fruits are of universal use.

Self-sterile, requires careful selection of pollinator varieties. Pollinator varieties: Yakovleva's Lyubimitsa, Bergamot Moscow.

Early-bearing. Yield per tree up to 40 kg. Fruit production is regular. Highly resistant to extreme environmental conditions and diseases. Winter hardiness is above average. Resistant to scab.

Advantages of the variety: early-bearing, resistance to scab.