Thanks to the breeding carried out by the Council for Agriculture Research and Experimentation - Folrì's fruit growing research unit (CRA-FRF), the harvesting calendar of high-quality pears in Italy has significantly expanded, especially for early varieties. In fact, the harvesting of Bohème pears, which are really similar to Williams but ripen almost a month early, has started in Emilia-Romagna.
The request for a European patent for this variety was filed in 2005 (Request no. 2005/0815) and the Community rights were granted in May 2013 (no. EU35356).
Walther Faedi, director of CRA-FRF, says that, "the tree, very vigorous and rustic, is straight with shortened internodes. Good compatibility for quince grafting. It starts producing rather early and the yield measured in experimental fields from 2003 to 2012 was 15-20% bigger than that of Williams."
In addition, Bohème have a low susceptibility to fire blight (Erwinia amylovora), as proved both in open fields in France and through artificial inoculations in Italy.
"The fruit is medium sized and is similar to Williams pears. The colour is light green-yellow with a slight rustiness in the eye cavity. The flesh is white and fine, with a good taste and aroma. Fruits can be eaten when harvested. The shelf-life is two months."
Bohème open the season, which will continue with Carmen, another CRA-FRF product known globally, which will be harvested around ten days later.
"As can be seen in the photos taken by Mr. Marco Castagnoli on July 16th in an orchard near Imola, the habit and productivity of the trees, grafted on BA 29, are rather interesting and confirm the results obtained during the experimental phase," adds Faedi.
CRA-FRF entrusted the Crpv of Cesena with the management of sales at a Community level. So far, the Crpv has signed various contacts for the reproduction of trees in Italy with the following companies: Az. Agr. Bertolami in Lamezia Terme (Calabria), Geoplant Vivai in Savarna (Emilia-Romagna), Salvi Vivai in Ferrara (Emilia-Romagna), Tagliani Vivai in Ostellato (Emilia-Romagna), Vivai Coop. Ansaloni in San Lazzaro di Savena (Emilia-Romagna), Vivai Fortunato in Sammichele di Bari (Puglia), Vivai Giannoccaro in Sammichele di Bari (Puglia), Vivai Mazzoni in Tresigallo (Emilia-Romagna), Vivai Milone in Lamezia Terme (Calabria) and Vivai Spinelli in Sammichele di Bari (Puglia).
The Crpv has granted Ferrara's CIV-Consorzio italiano vivaisti the exclusive right to promote and introduce the variety outside of Italy. Such right includes the reproduction and sale of plants and the sale of fruit, with the option of signing sub-dealership agreements with nursery gardens that have head offices either within or outside the Community. Since 2009, the variety is part of the national plant certification system.
