Question:

Which Pear cultivar is resistant to fire blight?

Show Hint

Asian pears (*Pyrus pyrifolia*) and their hybrids, such as 'Le-Conte' and 'Keiffer', generally show much higher resistance to fire blight than pure European pear (*Pyrus communis*) varieties.
  • Honey sweet
  • Bartlet
  • Flemish Beauty
  • Le-Conte
Show Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Fire blight is a highly destructive bacterial disease affecting pomaceous fruits (pears, apples, and quinces).
It is caused by the bacterium *Erwinia amylovora* and poses a major threat to commercial pear cultivation.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Fire blight causes the blossoms, leaves, and twigs of the pear tree to turn black and shrivel rapidly, giving the appearance of being scorched by fire.
Because chemical controls are expensive and have limited effectiveness, planting resistant cultivars is the primary management strategy.
Let us review the susceptibility of the listed cultivars:
- Bartlett (B): This is the most famous pear variety globally, but it is highly susceptible to fire blight.
- Flemish Beauty (C): A high-quality dessert pear, but it is extremely susceptible to both scab and fire blight.
- Le-Conte (D): This is a hybrid cultivar developed from a cross between the European pear (*Pyrus communis*) and the Asian pear (*Pyrus pyrifolia*).
Because of its Asian pear parentage, Le-Conte possesses high resistance and tolerance to fire blight, especially in warm, humid regions.
In India, Le-Conte is widely cultivated in the subtropical plains and low-hill regions because of its resistance to fire blight and low chilling requirement.
Therefore, Le-Conte is recognized as the resistant cultivar among the choices.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The pear cultivar resistant to fire blight is Le-Conte.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0

Top ICAR AIEEA Horticulture Questions

View More Questions

Top ICAR AIEEA Vegetable and Fruit Science Questions

View More Questions