Italian fruit breeding specialist Consorzio Italiano Vivaisti (CIV) has revealed it is working with researchers at the University of Bologna to develop new pear varieties for eventual commercial trial.
In an interview with leading Italian fresh produce monthly Corriere Ortofrutticolo, CIV director Alessio Martinelli confirmed that 'around five or six selections' had been made, with research into the new cultivars at an 'advanced stage'.
'We are trialling early varieties with yellow-green skin and high brix levels which could be harvested as early as the beginning of July, and we expect a lot from these,' he told the publication.
He added: 'We are also experimenting with other interesting types with red skins which are not early, more like Abate, and all with good taste qualities.'
At present, the report said, CIV has around 1,000-1,200 plants under trial, generating between 5,000 and 10,000 individual pears for testing.
Mr Martinelli added that it would take around three years to establish plantings of any pear cultivar selected for commercial release.
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