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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Kearneysville, West Virginia » Appalachian Fruit Research Laboratory » Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402346
Research Project: Improving Fruit Crop Traits Through Advanced Genomic, Breeding, and Management Technologies

Location: Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection

Title: ‘Bell’ pear

Author
item BELL, RICHARD - Retired ARS Employee
item SCHUUP, JIM - Pennsylvania State University
item Dardick, Christopher - Chris
item Demuth, Mark
item Gottschalk, Christopher

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2023
Publication Date: 6/30/2023
Citation: Bell, R., Schuup, J., Dardick, C.D., Demuth, M.A., Gottschalk, C.C. 2023. ‘Bell’ pear. HortScience. 58(8):832-835. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17113-23.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17113-23

Interpretive Summary: ‘Bell’ (Pyrus communis L.) is an early season pear that combines fire blight resistance with exceptional flavor and high productivity. Fire blight, caused by the bacterial pathogen Erwinia amylovora, is a devastating disease for pear growers in the mid-Atlantic region and other pear production areas prone to hot and humid climates. ‘Bell’ has exhibited strong resistance to natural infection to Erwinia compared to the susceptible, industry standard ‘Bartlett’. ‘Bell’ also exhibits a “balanced” sugar and acidity content that is desirable and preferred by pear consumers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania State University released ‘Bell’ in 2022 as a fresh-market pear for commercial, direct-to-market, and home production.

Technical Abstract: ‘Bell’ (Pyrus communis L.) is an early season pear that combines fire blight resistance with exceptional flavor and high productivity. Fire blight, caused by the bacterial pathogen Erwinia amylovora, is a devastating disease for pear growers in the mid-Atlantic region and other pear production areas prone to hot and humid climates. ‘Bell’ has exhibited strong resistance to natural infection to Erwinia compared to the susceptible, industry standard ‘Bartlett’. ‘Bell’ also exhibits a “balanced” sugar and acidity content that is desirable and preferred by pear consumers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania State University released ‘Bell’ in 2022 as a fresh-market pear for commercial, direct-to-market, and home production.