NEW PEAR VARIETIES OBTAINED AT SCDP VOINESTI

Genetic pear breeding program conducted at Research Station for Fruit Growing Voinești, Dâmbovița, started from 1950. If in the first stage, between the 1950s - 1960s, the breeding objectives were oriented towards obtaining varieties with high production potential, and fruit quality, after 1960, resistance to the main diseases and pests was introduced as the main selection objective, along with the other agro biological and technological characteristics. For disease and pest resistance, the main source was some cultivated biotypes with genetic ancestry in Pyrus serotina, and for fruit quality genitors from the valuable European assortment. Over the years, extensive biological material for selection was obtained through breeding work, which led to the selection and registered of 13 pear varieties, with different harvest time. In a first stage, pear varieties were approved and introduced into growing: 'Timpurii de Dâmbovița' (1967), 'Republica' (1973), 'Aniversarea' (1974) and in 1994 the first interspecific variety was approved under the name of 'Euras'. After 2000, 9 pear varieties were registered, the last four being registered between 2021 – 2023: 'Aroma', 'Andrei', 'Silvia', 'Nicolas'. These new varieties stand out for their superior quality fruit, demonstrating good behaviour against the attack of diseases and pests specific to the pear. It is recommended to use them as genitors in the future in breeding programs, but also to cultivate in all areas favourable to pear culture.