Italian research stands out on an international level. Last week, Gianluca Baruzzi and Giuseppina Caracciolo participated in the International Pear Symposium organised by the International Society for the Horticultural Science (ISHS) held in Montevideo, Uruguay. CREA researchers presented the varietal innovations obtained through the genetic improvement program carried out at the CREA in Forlì, Italy.
Giuseppina Caracciolo explained, “It was an important experience that allowed us to see the global state of the research. Our innovations have been much appreciated by both technicians and researchers, at the symposium.” CREA selected and experimented with the CREA 194 cultivar which will soon be marketed.
Giuseppina pointed out, “It is an early cultivar obtained from Carmen, which is a widely known variety that is experiencing remarkable success. CREA 194 is highly productive, to the point that we suggest thinning in order to achieve large sizes. It is a very early variety and can be relied upon for constant productivity”.
The excellent preservability is another important characteristic of this variety. “We could achieve a variety that can be preserved in cells for a longer time than Carmen. It has a very thick skin and therefore it does not quickly spoil like other pears when consumers touch them on the market shelves”.
This variety has a very sweet taste, with a fine pulp, aesthetically similar to Carmen. Caracciolo concluded, “On an international level, they did not present any novelties. The CREA innovation aroused a lot of interest. There were also other varieties such as the Falstaff as well as other red-skinned novelties”.
