Figurine

Pear

Variety Description

Varieties used for comparison: 'Clapp's Favourite' and 'Bartlett'

Summary: The tree of 'Figurine' has very strong branching while it is medium to strong in 'Clapp's Favourite' and medium in 'Bartlett'. 'Figurine' has a shorter leaf than in 'Clapp's Favourite' and a longer petiole than in 'Bartlett'. Flowering begins mid season for 'Figurine' while it is early for 'Bartlett'. 'Figurine' has a small fruit size while it is medium to large in 'Clapp's Favourite'. 'Figurine' has an absent or very small amount of russetting around the eye basin and on the cheeks of the fruit while there is a medium amount in those areas for 'Bartlett'. The depth of the stalk cavity in 'Figurine' is moderate while it is absent or very shallow in 'Clapp's Favourite'. 'Figurine' has a deep eye basin while it is shallow in 'Clapp's Favourite' and shallow to medium depth in 'Bartlett'.

Description:

TREE: medium to strong vigour, very strong branching, spreading habit, beginning of flowering is mid-season, time of maturity for consumption is middle to late

ONE YEAR OLD SHOOTS: straight, orange brown colour on sunny side, few to medium number of lenticels
VEGETATIVE BUD: acute apex, in relation to the shoot it is adpressed to slightly held out, medium to large bud support
YOUNG SHOOTS: absent or very weak anthocyanin colouration of growing tip, sparse pubescence on upper third

LEAF: upwards attitude in relation to shoot, small to medium length/width ratio, acute base, acute apex, medium length of pointed tip, bluntly serrated shallow to medium depth incisions of the margin, medium curvature of longitudinal axis
PETIOLE: stipules absent

FLOWER: bud mainly on long shoots, stigma below level of stamens
SEPALS: recurved in relation to corolla, erect at harvest
PETALS: not touching, small, circular and ovate, truncate to cordate base, short claw

FRUIT: small length/diameter ratio, position of maximum diameter is clearly towards the calyx, small size, symmetric in longitudinal cross section, concave to straight profile to sides, absent to very small area of russet on cheeks
SKIN: yellow ground colour, small amount of orange red over colour
STALK: thin to medium thickness, weak curvature, oblique attitude in relation to axis of the fruit, medium depth stalk cavity, absent or very small area of russet around stalk attachment
EYE BASIN: deep, medium to broad width at harvest, smooth relief of area around at harvest, absent or very small area of russet around eye basin
FLESH: fine texture, medium to firm firmness, dry to medium juiciness
SEED: round to ovate

Origin & Breeding History: 'Figurine' (experimental designation KP-6) is the result of the cross made by Dr. A. D. Crowe in 1965 between 'Ovid' and 'Beurré Fourqueray' at the Atlantic Food & Horticultural Research Centre in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Seedlings from the original cross were planted in 1966 where Dr. Crowe conducted primary selections until his retirement in 1987. KP-6 was selected by C. Embree, newly propagated and planted in a comparative trial in 1996. Selection criteria since 1996 were precocity, fruit size, colour, volume of yield and fruit quality characteristics.

Tests & Trials: Tests and trials were conducted at the Atlantic Food & Horticulture Research Centre in Kentville, Nova Scotia during 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. 5 trees of each variety were planted in 1996 on a Bartlett seedling rootstock in Block 126 of the second test orchard. Trees were planted in a row with a 3 meter spacing between trees within the row and 4.75 meter spacing between the rows.

Comparison tables for 'Figurine' with reference varieties 'Clapp's Favourite' and 'Bartlett'

Leaf length (mm)

Petiole length (mm)

Click on image for larger view

Pear: 'Figurine' (KP-6) (left) with reference varieties 'Clapp's Favourite' (centre) and 'Bartlett' (right)