Nashi asian pear varieties
Introduction
Nashi or Asian pears are totally different to the European pear, Pyrus communi. The Nashi are either Pyrus pyrifolia, P. bretschneideri or P. ussuriensis. They originate from eastern Asia, China, Japan and Korea. Most are compatible when grafted on each other, and will mostly cross-pollinate each other, if the flowering time is the same.
Nashi are a popular fruit with most Asian cultures, being extremely juicy but having a fairly bland flavour. They are used more as thirst quenchers rather than as a means of satisfying hunger. In addition to being popular as a fruit, they have some useful characteristics of shape and disease resistance. Nashi are used in pear variety breeding programs to develop more interesting pears.
The better varieties of Nashi or Asian Pears were introduced and released into Australia in:
- 1980: Nijisseiki, Shinsui, Chojuro, Tsu Li
- 1983: Kosui, Ya Li
- 1988: Dan Bae, Hakko, Hosui, Shinsetsu, Hwa Hong, Niitaka, Shinsei
- 1989: Bong Ri, Choju, Haeng Soo, Shin Soo, Shin Go, Kikusui, Okusankichi, Yakumo
- 1990: Shinseiki, Shinko
- 1993: Shen Li
Flowering and Maturity Guides
Pests and Diseases
Since the first plantings in the early 1980s at Orange Agricultural Institute, none of these trees has had any fungicide sprays:
- Pear scab (Venturia pirina) has not been seen although it is present in the district.
- Quince fleck (Fabraea maculata) – nashi do not appear to be susceptible to this disease, unlike most European pears.
- Pear blast (Pseudomonas syringae) – they are susceptible, causing dieback. Some varieties are more susceptible than others.
- Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) does attack them but less so than for apples.
- Pear and cherry slugworm (Caliroa cerasi) can be damaging, especially in the first years before fruit bearing before pesticides will be applied for codling moth and fruit fly control.
- Mites (Tetranychus urticae). As with European pear, mites can seriously affect some varieties with black leaves (i.e. Kosui, Shinsui). Mites bronze the leaves of others such as Nijisseiki, similar to apples.
