Seedling genotypes of European pear (Pyrus communis L.) are scattered in the temperate regions of Iran, therefore, this provides the possibility for selecting superior genotypes for being used in the pear breeding programs as well as the commercial orchards. In this research, the vegetative and reproductive traits of promising pear genotype A95 were evaluated in comparison with the local commercial pear cultivars, cv. Sebri and cv. Shahmiveh, based on the distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) tests descriptor in 2022 and 2023 growing seasons in pear colleaction orchard of Trabiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. The measured and recorded traits included five attributes; tree form, six traits in annual branches, eleven traits in leaves, six traits in blossoms, and ten traits related to fruit. The results showed that the highest length: width ratio and the highest fruit weight belonged to cv. Sebri followed by promising genotype A95. The highest TSS content was related to A95 promising genotype and it was 14.4 and 14.6 for the first and second year, respectively. The fruit pH of A95 genotype was 4.5 in the first year and 9.5 in the second year. The fruit firmness of A95 genotype was recorded as 3.9 and 3.6 kg cm-2 in two growing seasons, respectively. The Juiciness of fruit flesh A95 genotype was 6.14 in the first season, thus it was higher than cv. Shahviveh (5.25) and cv. Sebri (4.38). Based on the DUS descriptor the juiciness of the A95 genotype ranked relatively juicy. In addition to the desirable fruit size, fruit weight, higher TSS, and fruit taste and quality, A95 genotype also showed light red color background on the fruit skin, which make its appearance more attractive with better market acceptance in comparison with cv. Shahmiveh and cv. Sebri. Keywords: Pear, cv. Sebri, cv. Shahmiveh, Pyrus communis L, fruit firmness, dry matter content. Introduction In the framework of the pear research program at the department of horticultural science at Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran, Iran, in 2010 growing season, A95 promising pear genotype was selected as a European pear (Pyrus communis L.) chance seedling. This genotype was selected among 15 European pear genotypes that were primarily planted as seedling rootstocks for development of Asian pear (Pyrus serotina Rehd.) cultivars in the 2002 growing season. However, the scions failed to grow but the seedling rootstocks grew and maintained for further breeding purpose (Najafzadeh and Arzani, 2015; Wang and Arzani, 2019). Taghigozari (2017) evaluated flowering period of the A95 promising genotype in comparison with some of the European and Asian pear cultivars at the TMU pear breeding orchard and reported good overlapping period for the blooming time. in comparison with the `Sebri’ cultivar under Tehran. The objective of this research was to monitor the vegetative, flowering, and fruiting traits of the A95 promising genotype in comparison with the two native commercial pear cultivars, cv. Shahmiveh and cv. Sebri, based on the distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) tests descriptor (SPCRI. 2008) in 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. Materials and Methods The research was conducted in 2022 and 2023 growing seasons in the department of horticultural sciences, faculty of agriculture, Tarbiat Madras University pear collection orchard in Tehran, Iran. The vegetative, flowering, and fruit traitss of 10-year-old European pear (Pyrus communis L.) A95 promising genotype, cv. Shahmiveh and cv. Sebri were evaluated based on the distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) tests descriptor for pear (SPCRI. 2008). Results and Discussion The results showed remarkable variation in the measured traits of A95 promising pear genotype in comparison with cv. Shahmiveh and cv. Sebri. Most of traits of A95 genotype were in agreement with the previously reported results on this genotype that was recorded on the original selected tree in 2010 growing season in pear collection orchard at the Tarbiat Modares University (Najafzadeh and Arzani, 2015; Wang and Arzani, 2019). In addition to the desirable fruit size, fruit weight, higher TSS, and fruit taste and quality, A95 genotype also showed light red color background on the fruit skin, which make its appearance more attractive and better market acceptance in comparison with cv. Shahmiveh and cv. Sebri. In conclusion, that results of the present study clearly showed the superiority of A95 promising pear genotype in comparison with cv. Shahmiveh and cv. Sebri. References Najafzadeh, R. and Arzani K. 2015. Superior growth characteristics, yield, and fruit quality in promising European pear (Pyrus communis L.) chance seedlings in Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 17(2), pp.427-442. DOI: 0.1001.1.16807073.2015.17.2.11.4 SPCRI. 2008. National guideline for the conduct of tests for distinctness, uniformity and stability in pear. Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Institute. Karaj, Iran. 37 pp. (in Persian). Taghigozari, E. 2017. Study on the flowering, fruiting, and propagation of the A95 promising genotype in comparison with some of the Asian pear (Pyrus serotina Rehd) and European pear (Pyrus communis L,) cultivars. M. Sc. Thesis. Tarbiat Modares University. Tehran, Iran. 156 pp. (in Persian). Wang, Y. and Arzani, K. 2019. European pear. Pp. 305-328. In: In: de Freitas, S. T. and Pareek, S. (eds.) Postharvest physiological disorders in fruits and vegetables. CRC Press. DOI: 10.1201/b22001-14/european-pear-yan-wang-kazem-arzani |