Production stability of pear cultivars for cultivation in the subtropical altitude climate

Abstract

The aim of this study was to select pear cultivars with production stability for the environmental conditions in the tropics. The design was in randomized blocks with 11 cultivars of pear, four replications and plots consisting of four plants. Between 2015 and 2019, the phenological were evaluated based on the beginning, full bloom, end and duration of flowering and harvest. The number and average fruit mass, yield per plant and estimated yield were also quantified. In the last year of evaluation, the quality of the fruits was quantified through the length and average diameter of the fruits, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids content and total soluble solids / total titratable acidity ratio. The data were submitted to the Scott–Knott grouping test and to quantify the divergence between cultivars was used the genetic distance. After detecting significant interaction between genotypes × environments, phenotypic stability of pear cultivars were analyzed by GGE Biplot methods for the estimated yield variable. The ‘Tenra’, ‘Triunfo’ and ‘Seleta’ cultivars are the most suitable for cultivation in regions with subtropical altitude climate. They are genetically similar, more adapted and stable, and have full or partial synchronized flowering for satisfactory productivity.