Variety Introduction of the New Pear Line Jincuixiang

Cuixiang pear was bred by Liu Qinglin, a senior agronomist at Dalian Chenji Fruit Co., Ltd., in 1981 through hybridization using Xuehua pear (Snowflake pear) as the female parent and Zhuanghe No. 1 pear as the male parent. After years of observation and trial planting, it has performed well.

I. Fruit Traits and Characteristics

The fruit is obovate, with a transverse diameter of 5.5-6.5 cm and a longitudinal diameter of 6.5-7.5 cm. The single fruit weighs 300-400 g, with a maximum of 700 g. The stem cavity is deep, and a goose-head shape often appears. Fruits borne on young trees show 3 faint longitudinal grooves. The calyx is deciduous, and the calyx cavity is broadly funnel-shaped. The peel is thin, initially yellow-green and golden yellow when ripe. The taste is excellent; the flesh is white, fine and crisp, juicy, with few stone cells. It contains 14.2%-16.4% soluble solids, up to a maximum of 18.1%, 0.2% acid, and 4.6 mg of vitamin per 100 g. After ripening, it has a very strong fragrance. The core cavity is small and closed, and the edible rate is 94.6%. Under natural conditions, it can be stored until May of the following year without changes in color or flavor.

II. Botanical Characteristics

After budbreak, new shoots and young leaves are light purple; after leaves are fully formed, they are yellow-green, broadly ovate, with sparse and shallow serrations along the leaf margin, and thick in texture. The tree is vigorous and strongly upright, and the branches of young trees are not easy to spread open. The sprouting ability is weak, while the branching ability is strong, and the fruit-setting rate under self-pollination is high. Generally, short branches are the main bearing shoots, with strong continuous fruiting ability and a habit of bearing fruit on axillary flower buds. The fruit ripening period is uniform and consistent, with no natural fruit drop before harvest. It begins to bear fruit 3 years after planting and enters full fruiting at 5 years; a 5-year-old small tree can bear 25-50 kg of fruit.

III. Phenological Period

In the Zhuanghe area, this pear buds around April 15 and flowers in early May (the average temperature in Zhuanghe in May is 8.1°C, the annual average temperature is 8.7°C, and the frost-free period is 170 days). It ripens from late September to early October, with a growth period of 140-150 days.

IV. Good Adaptability

This pear has strong adaptability and is not demanding in soil requirements; it can be planted at pH 6.5-7.5. Since 1998, introductions have been successful in Zunhua City, Hebei Province; Cao County, Shandong Province; **Yining; Ji'an, Jilin; and other places. Introductions in Donggang City, Yingkou City, Wafangdian City, Jinzhou District of Dalian City, and other areas around Zhuanghe City have also been successful. Donggang City has listed Jincuixiang pear as an extension project.

V. Strong Stress Resistance

1. Wind resistance On August 21, 1998, the Zhuanghe area was hit by Typhoon No. 11, with wind force reaching 7-8 on the Beaufort scale. Other varieties dropped more than 50% of their fruit, while Jincuixiang pear basically had no fruit drop except at the windward edge.

2. Cold resistance In the freeze-damage years of 1993 and 2000, the minimum temperature in the Zhuanghe area reached -28°C, and no freeze damage occurred. In the Jincuixiang pear trees introduced by Jia Changfu in Zhangjiabao Village, Nankouqian Town, Qingyuan County, except for autumn shoots, neither flower buds nor other parts suffered freeze damage.

3. Waterlogging resistance In 1996, Liu Qinglin's propagation base in the Zhuanghe area suffered a major flood. Eleven 4-year-old Jincuixiang pear trees were submerged in 30 cm of water for 72 hours, with no injury or damage, and they flowered and fruited normally the following year.

4. Disease resistance This pear is mainly resistant to pear scab, ring rot, and black spot.

VI. Issues to Note When Introducing the Variety

1. Bordeaux mixture is prohibited for this pear; otherwise, the fruit will be small and the peel black.

2. It is not suitable for cultivation without irrigation conditions; it is best suited for planting in places with fertile soil and abundant water sources.