1. What are the characteristics of 'Bell' pear trees?
'Bell' pear trees are vigorous with semiglossy leaves and ovate to ovate-pyriform fruit shape. The fruit is convex towards the middle, with an intermediate length. The peel is yellow with a red blush on the sun-exposed side. The flesh is buttery, melting in texture, and can be harvested tree-ripe or ripened in cold storage. It has little to no grit. The harvest date is similar to 'Bartlett', usually occurring in the third week of August in the mid-Atlantic region.
read more
2. What is 'Bell' pear's yearly average TCSA?
'Bell' pear's yearly average TCSA was the second or third highest documented among the nine varieties tested in the two training systems. This suggests that 'Bell' is a vigorous scion variety when grafted on OHxF 87. The TCSA is an important growth characteristic that indicates the size and strength of the tree's trunk. A higher TCSA value indicates a larger and stronger trunk, which can contribute to better overall tree performance and productivity. In the case of 'Bell' pear, its high TCSA value demonstrates its potential for high yield and good fruit quality when grown in the appropriate training systems.
read more
3. What is the fire blight infection rate of 'Bell' compared to 'Bartlett' and 'Potomac'?
The fire blight infection rate of 'Bell' is significantly lower compared to 'Bartlett' and 'Potomac'. Over six years of observation, 'Bell' exhibited little to no natural infection, with an average rating of 9.5 out of 10, indicating no infection. In contrast, 'Bartlett' had an average rating of 4.2, and 'Potomac' had a rating of 7.9, using the USDA Fire Blight Rating Scale. This suggests that 'Bell' has a higher resistance to fire blight compared to the other two varieties. The source of fire blight resistance in 'Bell' can be attributed to both sides of its parentage, as 'Luscious' and 'Seckel' are fire blight resistant varieties. However, it's important to note that 'Bell' is susceptible to Fabraea leaf spot, which can result in defoliation and blemishes on fruit peels.
read more
4. How does fruit size vary in different training systems?
In the Pennsylvania trial, 'Bell' exhibited a fruit length of 80.43 to 118.45 mm, a diameter of 105.95 to 157.13 mm, and a weight of 117.87 to 122.48 g in the Tall-Spindle training system. Generally, fruit grown in the Tall-Spindle training system was larger than in the Bi-Axis system. In the West Virginia trial, 'Bell' exhibited an average length of 74.6 cm, a diameter of 18.40 mm, and a weight of 125.54 g. The two trials demonstrated consistency in fruit size regardless of the rootstock used or training system. 'Bell' was larger than 'Seckel' but smaller than store-bought 'Bartlett' in the West Virginia trial. 'Bell' was closest in size to 'Forelle' in terms of its potential market class. In the PA trial, 'Bell' exhibited a similar SSC to 'Anjou' in both systems. In the West Virginia trial, 'Bell' had a similar pH to many other varieties, but TA was the third highest measured. 'Bell' performed the highest in flavor intensity, flavor balance, and juiciness compared with 'Bartlett' and 'Gem' in consumer evaluation. Overall, 'Bell' fruit size varied in different training systems, with the Tall-Spindle system generally producing larger fruit compared to the Bi-Axis system.
read more