Completed project
Profitable pears: maximising productivity and quality of new pear varieties (AP12002)
Publication date: December 13, 2018
Delivery Partner: The Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
This project, which ran from 2013 into 2018, investigated management techniques and physiological mechanisms to increase the profitability of growing red-blushed pears. The work was carried out at an experimental orchard, the Pear Field Laboratory, with new red-blushed pear varieties previously developed under the National Pear Breeding Program.
The researchers looked at the effects and benefits of factors including tree density, rootstocks, tree training, irrigation, root pruning, plant growth regulators and nitrogen requirements. They used a fruit grader equipped with optical and near-infrared cameras to measure fruit quality.
Economic modelling was also undertaken, looking at expected initial returns from growing new pear cultivars. The economic analysis was based on variety ANP-0131 (Deliza) – which was found in the research to be the most vigorous and productive new red-blushed variety. Deliza was grafted to Quince A rootstock, with a Beurré Hardy interstem, and trained on an Open Tatura trellis with multiple leaders. Three densities were compared: 1481 (low), 2222 (high) and 4444 (ultra-high) trees per hectare.
Key findings from the research included:
The researchers note that their results suggest growing the new red-blushed pears would be a profitable investment for pear growers in areas such as the Goulburn Valley, if done in a modern orchard system characterised by high-density plantings of compact trees that use water efficiently, fruit early in life and produce consistent high yields of quality.
Agriculture Victoria has a dedicated website for the Profitable Pears research, making all project experiments, findings and resources including instructional videos more easily accessible for growers. Take a look at www.hin.com.au/networks/blush-pear-research.
Find a selection of specific resources below…
This project was a strategic levy investment in the Hort Innovation Apple and Pear Fund
© 2026 Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited.
Related industries
