Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pyrus communis.
Variety denomination: ‘HW624’.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The new and distinct pear tree described and claimed herein originated from a controlled cross between ‘Harrow Sweet’ and ‘NY10353’ made in 1988 in Harrow, Ontario. Pedigree of ‘HW624’ is shown in FIG. 1.
‘HW624’ was selected as a hybrid seedling (‘H8806-1’) in 1995 and propagated by budding on pear seedling rootstocks. Trees were planted in an evaluation orchard in 1999 in Jordan Station, Ontario. This selection was advanced and tested in regional trials beginning in 2000.
‘HW624’ is harvested two weeks after ‘Bartlett’, whereas ‘Harrow Sweet’ is harvested three and a half weeks after ‘Bartlett’ and ‘NY10353’ is harvested one week before ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ has medium to large size fruit, whereas ‘Harrow Sweet’ also has medium to large size fruit and ‘NY10353’ has small, plump spindle shaped fruit. ‘HW624’ fruit is yellow with a Red Blush at maturity, whereas ‘Harrow Sweet’ fruit is yellow at maturity. ‘HW624’ has a high level of resistance to fire blight and psylla, whereas ‘Harrow Sweet’ has good resistance to fire blight and ‘NY10353’ has good resistance to psylla and fire blight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION On the new pear tree ‘HW624’, the profile of the sides of the fruit of ‘HW624’ is straight whereas they are concave on the reference varieties ‘Bosc’ (R1), ‘Harrow Sweet’ (R2), ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ (R3) and ‘Bartlett’ (R4). The ground colour of the skin of ‘HW624’ is yellow whereas it is yellow green on ‘Bosc’, ‘Harrow Street’ and ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ has a medium to large area of over colour of the skin whereas there is none on ‘Bosc’, small to medium area on ‘Harrow Street’ and very small on ‘Bartlett’. The over colour of ‘HW624’ is dark red whereas it is orange red on ‘Harrow Street’, ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ and ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ has no russetting around the eye basin, on the cheeks or around the stalk attachment of the fruit whereas ‘Bosc’ has a large to very large area. The fruit stalk of ‘HW624’ is thin whereas it is medium thickness on ‘Harrow Street’ and ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ and thick on ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ has weak curvature of the fruit stalk whereas the curvature is medium to strong on ‘Bosc’, medium on ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ and absent on ‘Bartlett’. The attitude of the sepals on the fruit of ‘HW624’ is spreading whereas it is erect on ‘Bosc’ and ‘Harrow Street’ and converging on ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ and ‘Bartlett’. ‘HW624’ is resistant to moderately resistant to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora) whereas ‘Bosc’ is moderately susceptible and ‘Bartlett’ is susceptible. ‘HW624’ is resistant to moderately resistant to pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola Foerst) whereas the reference varieties are susceptible.
The following are major distinguishing characteristics. ‘HW624’ is a mid-late season pear cultivar for the fresh market. ‘HW624’ produces heavy crops of medium-to large-sized fruit, picked about 2 weeks after ‘Bartlett’. Fruits are green when harvested, turning yellow as fruits ripen, and there is a medium red blush where exposed to the sun. The tree has consistently produced heavy crops, with no evidence of biennial bearing. There were no natural fire blight infections on the seedling tree, and results from controlled inoculations indicate a high level of resistance to fire blight. The tree is also highly resistant to pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola Foerst). In years when orchard populations of psylla have been high, trees of ‘HW624’ have had no noticeable presence of this insect pest. ‘HW624’ is not graft-compatible with quince rootstocks. The characteristics most useful in distinguishing ‘HW624’ are fruit characteristics and resistance to fire blight and resistance to pear psylla.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The accompanying photographic illustration illustrates in full color ‘HW624’. The colors are as nearly true as reasonably possible in color representation of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description below, which accurately describes the colors of the new pear tree.
FIG. 1 shows pedigree of ‘HW624’.
FIG. 2 shows five examples of the fruit of ‘HW624’ compared to the fruit of ‘Bosc’ (R1), ‘Harrow Sweet’ (R2), ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ (R3) and ‘Bartlett’ (R4).
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The ‘HW624’ variety is uniform and stable. Asexual propagation maintains uniformity and stability. No off-types, variants or mutations have been found to date. Virus-tested ‘HW624’ is maintained in North Saanich, British Columbia.
The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society 1966 version has been used for colour identification of fruit and shoot. The description is based on observation of four trees grafted on seedling rootstock originally established during the 1999 growing season. Comparisons were made with ‘Bosc’ (R1), ‘Harrow Sweet’ (R2), ‘AC Harrow Crisp’ (R3) and ‘Bartlett’ (R4). Four trees of each variety grafted on ‘Bartlett’ open pollinated seedling rootstock were spaced about 3 metres apart with about 4.5 metres between rows and were observed during the 2009-2010 growing seasons in Jordan Station, Ontario. Fire blight evaluations and observations were conducted in 1988-2000 in Harrow, Ontario. ‘HW624’ was observed to be able to survive winter conditions (−29° C.) in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, while still having a full crop the following season. The observed chilling range for ‘HW624’ is 800-1000 hours, measured during the dormant period temperature below 45° F.
‘HW624’ R1 R2 R3 R4
Tree:
Vigor medium very medium strong medium
to strong strong to strong
Branching strong medium strong medium medium
to strong to strong
Habit spreading spreading spreading spreading spreading
to
drooping
Mature height near 12
(ft.)
Mature spread near 10
(ft.)
Trunk diameter near 130
30 cm above
ground (mm)
Trunk colour 197B
Branch length near 50
(cm)
Branch diameter near 8
(mm)
Branch crotch near 35°
angle
Branch texture smooth
Branch colour 177B
‘HW624’ R1 R2
Shoot—One-year-old:
Growth wavy wavy wavy
Length of internode (cm)
Mean 3.42 4.28 3.02
Std. deviation 0.37 0.67 0.48
Length of shoot (cm) near 15
Diameter of shoot (mm) near 4
Texture smooth
Predominant colour on brown purple brown purple orange
sunny side (178A) brown
Number of lenticels many (near many medium to
15 per cm2) many
Shape of lenticels oblong
Height of lenticels (mm) near 2.5
Diameter of lenticels near 1
(mm)
Colour of lenticels 156A
Shape of apex of acute acute acute
vegetative bud
Position of vegetative slightly held slightly held slightly held
bud in relation to shoot out out to mark- out
edly held out
Length of vegetative bud near 15
(mm)
Diameter of vegetative near 2
bud (mm)
Colour of vegetative bud 143B
Size of bud support medium small to small to
medium medium
Shoot—Young:
Anthocyanin colouration very strong strong to medium
of growing tip (during (180A) very strong
rapid growth)
Intensity of pubescence weak to weak to weak to
(upper third) medium medium medium
R3 R4
Shoot—One-year-old:
Growth straight to wavy straight to
wavy
Length of internode (cm)
Mean 3.26 3.55
Std. deviation 0.58 0.46
Length of shoot (cm)
Diameter of shoot (mm)
Texture
Predominant colour on sunny side medium brown orange brown
Number of lenticels medium to medium to
many many
Shape of lenticels
Height of lenticels (mm)
Diameter of lenticels (mm)
Colour of lenticels
Shape of apex of vegetative bud acute acute
Position of vegetative bud in slightly held adpressed
relation to shoot out
Length of vegetative bud (mm)
Diameter of vegetative bud (mm)
Colour of vegetative bud
Size of bud support medium small to
medium
Shoot—Young:
Anthocyanin colouration of medium to medium
growing tip (during rapid growth) strong
Intensity of pubescence (upper weak to medium
third) medium
‘HW624’ R1 R2
Leaf—Blade:
Attitude in relation to shoot outwards downwards outwards
Length (cm)
Mean 6.5 7.1 7.1
Std. deviation 1.0 1.3 1.2
Width (cm)
Mean 4.3 4.3 3.8
Std. deviation 0.7 1.0 0.8
Length/Width ratio small to medium medium to
medium large
Leaf shape elliptic
Shape of base right-angled obtuse right-angled
Shape of apex obtuse right-angled right-angled
(excluding pointed tip)
Length of pointed tip short short short
Incisions of margins bluntly crenate bluntly
(upper half) serrate serrate
Depth of incisions of margin shallow shallow shallow
Curvature of longitudinal very weak weak to weak
axis medium
Leaf texture—top smooth
Leaf texture—bottom smooth
Leaf colour—top 137B
Leaf colour—bottom 147B
Leaf—Petiole:
Length (cm)
Mean 2.7 2.2 2.4
Std. deviation 0.6 1.0 0.7
Diameter (mm) near 1.2
Colour 144C
Presence of stipules present Absent or present
weakly
present
Distance of stipules from medium medium short to
basal attachment of petiole to long medium
R3 R4
Leaf—Blade:
Attitude in relation to shoot outwards outwards
Length (cm)
Mean 6.3 6.5
Std. deviation 0.8 0.7
Width (cm)
Mean 3.8 3.9
Std. deviation 0.7 0.6
Length/Width ratio medium medium
Leaf shape
Shape of base right-angled right-angled
to obtuse to obtuse
Shape of apex right-angled right-angled
(excluding pointed tip) to obtuse
Length of pointed tip short to short
very short
Incisions of margins bluntly serrate bluntly serrate
(upper half)
Depth of incisions of margin shallow shallow
Curvature of longitudinal axis weak very weak
Leaf texture—top
Leaf texture—bottom
Leaf colour—top
Leaf colour—bottom
Leaf—Petiole:
Length (cm)
Mean 2.1 2.0
Std. deviation 0.7 0.8
Diameter (mm)
Colour
Presence of stipules present present
Distance of stipules from short to short
basal attachment of petiole medium
‘HW624’ R1 R2
Flower:
Time of beginning of Early (May) medium to early to
flowering late medium
Time of full bloom May
Location of flower bud mainly on mainly on mainly on
on shoot spurs spurs spurs
Length of flower bud (cm)
Mean 5.4 5.9 5.5
Std. deviation 0.7 0.5 0.6
Shape of flower bud obtuse
Diameter of flower bud (mm) near 5
Colour of flower bud 49D
Flower diameter (mm) near 2
Flower depth (mm) near 1
Flower fragrance nutty/almond
Number of flowers per 7
cluster
Sepal length (cm)
Mean 5.9 8.3 6.7
Std. deviation 0.6 0.7 0.7
Attitude of sepals in relation recurved recurved recurved
to corolla
Sepal number 5
Sepal shape obtuse
Sepal width (mm) near 2
Sepal apex and margin reddish and
pointed apex
and margin
Sepal texture—top smooth
Sepal texture—bottom smooth
Sepal colour—top 22A
Sepal colour—bottom 35B
Arrangement of petals not touching not touching to
to touching touching overlapping
Petal number 5
Petal shape irregular
Petal apex and margin irregular
Petal texture—top smooth
Petal texture—bottom smooth
Petal colour—top NN155C
Petal colour—bottom NN155C
Position of stigma in same level same level above
relation to stamens
Size of petal small to medium medium
(length/width (mm)) medium
(10/12)
Shape of petal circular to ovate circular
(excluding the claw) broad ovate
Shape of base of cuneate to cuneate rounded
petal (excluding the claw) rounded
Length of claw of petal short medium medium
Anther number 12
Anther length (mm) near 3
Pollen colour N200A
Stigma length (mm) near 0.1
Stigma colour 155B
Ovary colour 192D
R3 R4
Flower:
Time of beginning of flowering medium to late medium
Time of full bloom
Location of flower bud on shoot mainly on spurs mainly on
spurs
Length of flower bud (cm)
Mean 6.3 4.1
Std. deviation 0.4 0.3
Shape of flower bud
Diameter of flower bud (mm)
Colour of flower bud
Flower diameter (mm)
Flower depth (mm)
Flower fragrance
Number of flowers per cluster
Sepal length (cm)
Mean 7.9 7.0
Std. deviation 1.1 1.2
Attitude of sepals in relation to recurved spreading
corolla to recurved
Sepal number
Sepal shape
Sepal width
Sepal apex and margin
Sepal texture—top
Sepal texture—bottom
Sepal colour—top
Sepal colour—bottom
Arrangement of petals touching touching to
overlapping
Petal number
Petal shape
Petal apex and margin
Petal texture—top
Petal texture—bottom
Petal colour—top
Petal colour—bottom
Position of stigma in relation to same level same level
stamens
Size of petal (length/width (mm)) small to medium
medium
Shape of petal circular circular
(excluding the claw)
Shape of base of petal rounded Rounded
(excluding the claw)
Length of claw of petal very short short
Anther number
Anther length (mm)
Pollen colour
Stigma length (mm)
Stigma colour
Ovary colour
‘HW624’ R1 R2
Fruit:
Length (cm)
Mean 8.7 10.2 9.1
Std. deviation 1.0 0.9 0.9
Maximum diameter
(cm)
Mean 6.9 7.0 6.6
Std. deviation 0.6 0.5 0.6
Length/Diameter ratio small to medium to medium
medium large
Position of maximum slightly to- slightly slightly
diameter wards calyx towards calyx towards calyx
to clearly to-
wards calyx
Size large large medium
Shape slightly
asymmetric
Symmetry (in slightly slightly slightly
longitudinal section) asymmetric asymmetric asymmetric
to strongly
asymmetric
Profile of sides straight concave concave
Weight (g)—mean 159.45
Ground colour of skin Yellow (11B) yellow green yellow green
Relative area of over medium to absent or small to
colour large very small medium
Hue of over colour dark red orange red
(42B)
Relative area of absent or large to absent or
russet around eye very small very large very small
basin
Relative area of absent or large to absent or
russet on cheeks very small very large very small
Relative area of absent or large to absent or
russet around stalk very small very large very small
attachment
Length of stalk (mm)
Mean 3.2 5.0 3.4
Std. deviation 0.7 0.7 0.6
Thickness of stalk thin (near 4 thin to medium medium
mm)
Curvature of stalk weak medium to weak to
strong medium
Attitude of stalk in oblique oblique oblique
relation to axis of fruit
Depth of stalk cavity medium to absent or shallow
deep (near very shallow
5 mm)
Diameter of stalk near 15 mm
cavity
Attitude of sepals (at spreading erect erect
harvest)
Eye basin (at harvest) present present present
Depth of eye basin (at medium to shallow shallow
harvest) deep (near
10 mm)
Width of eye basin (at medium narrow to medium to
harvest) (near 35 mm) medium broad
Relief of area around slightly slightly ribbed slightly ribbed
eye (at harvest) ribbed
Texture of flesh very fine very fine very very fine
Firmness of flesh medium to medium soft to
firm medium
Juiciness of flesh medium to juicy juicy to
juicy very juicy
Flesh brix 11.8 to 13.5
Flesh colour 158C
Fruit locule number 5
per fruit
Fruit locule length near 10
(mm)
Fruit locule width near 6
(mm)
Seed shape ovate ovate elliptic
Seed length (mm) near 8
Seed width (mm) near 4
Number of seeds per 3 to 5
fruit
Number of seeds per 1
locule
Seed colour 165B-C
Time of maturity for Late very late very late
consumption (September)
Observed harvest Sep. 18, 2013
dates of fruit Sep. 23, 2014
Sep. 19, 2015
Sep. 14, 2016
Fruit production (lbs 120
per tree per year)
R3 R4
Fruit:
Length (cm)
Mean 9.1 9.0
Std. deviation 0.8 0.9
Maximum diameter (cm)
Mean 6.8 6.8
Std. deviation 0.6 0.6
Length/Diameter ratio medium small to medium
Position of maximum slightly towards in middle
diameter calyx
Size large medium to large
Shape
Symmetry (in longitudinal slightly symmetric to
section) asymmetric slightly
asymmetric
Profile of sides concave concave
Weight (g)—mean
Ground colour of skin yellow yellow green
Relative area of over colour medium between very
small and small
Hue of over colour orange red orange red
Relative area of russet around absent or absent or
eye basin very small very small
Relative area of russet on absent or absent or
cheeks very small very small
Relative area of russet around small very small to
stalk attachment small
Length of stalk (mm)
Mean 3.7 2.8
Std. deviation 0.9 0.6
Thickness of stalk medium thick
Curvature of stalk medium absent or very
weak
Attitude of stalk in relation to straight to straight to oblique
axis of fruit oblique
Depth of stalk cavity medium medium
Diameter of stalk cavity
Attitude of sepals (at harvest) converging converging
Eye basin (at harvest) present present
Depth of eye basin (at harvest) shallow to deep
medium
Width of eye basin (at harvest) medium narrow
Relief of area around eye smooth embossed
(at harvest)
Texture of flesh very very fine very very fine
Firmness of flesh medium medium to firm
Juiciness of flesh medium to juicy
juicy
Flesh brix
Flesh colour
Fruit locule number per fruit
Fruit locule length (mm)
Fruit locule width (mm)
Seed shape elliptic ovate
Seed length (mm)
Seed width (mm)
Number of seeds per fruit
Number of seeds per locule
Seed colour
Time of maturity for medium medium to late
consumption
Observed harvest dates of fruit
Fruit production (lbs per tree
per year)
‘HW624’ R1 R2
Disease/Pest Reactions:
Fire blight (Elwininia resistant to mod- moderately resistant to mod-
amylovora) erately resistant susceptible erately resistant
Pear psylla resistant to mod- susceptible susceptible
(Cacopsylla pyricola) erately resistant
R3 R4
Disease/Pest Reactions:
Fire blight (Elwininia resistant to mod- susceptible
amylovora) erately resistant
Pear psylla susceptible susceptible
(Cacopsylla pyricola)
The ‘HW624’ variety has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.
