Mostly pears are considered self-infertile (can not produce fruit from their own pollen) and require cross pollination.

Insufficient pollination may result in reduced yields and misshapen fruit. It is important when planning an intensive pear orchard to ensure adequate pollination through

• planting compatible varieties that flower at the same time
• careful planning of orchard configuration for effective pollinizer arrangement
• ensuring satisfactory bee populations in the orchard at flowering
• minimising competition from other flowering plants

Varieties for cross-pollination of pears

Planting pollenisers

Ensuring satisfactory bee populations at flowering

Minimise competition from other flowering plants

Further information

References

Varieties for cross-pollination of pears

It is important that pollinating varieties are compatible. The main variety and pollinator must also have a flowering period that coincides enough to ensure pollen is available as flowers open.

The following table lists compatible pollinators for selected pear varieties.

Table 1: Pollination table (adapted from Campbell (2002))

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Planting pollenisers

The placement of pollenisers in the orchard is particularly important in intensive production systems. Pollenisers need to be placed close to the main variety to ensure good pollenation.

Bees tend to fly down rows an not across them so full row systems of pollenisers (often used in old low density systems) may have limited effectiveness in intensive production systems. 

A more effective layout is one that has pollenisers evenly planted throughout every row.

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Ensuring satisfactory bee populations at flowering

Often growers will need to hire honeybee colonies as populations of wild or feral honeybees are low. Bees can be killed as a result of pesticide application in the orchard so growers will need to ensure they plan pesticide application programs to avoid this.

Suggested stocking rates for pears are provided in the resources below. However growers should consult an apiarist and local expertise to determine honeybee requirements for their orchard. 

Bee activity under hail netting

In order to ensure adequate pollination under hail netting, there are a number of factors that need to be managed. These were outlined by Middleton and McWaters (2002) and include

• Placement of hives under the netting  once flowering has commenced as bees will be less likely to fly into blocks covered by hail netting. If bees are introduced too early they will seek alternative nectar and pollen outside netted area 
• Allowing an adequate gap between the top of the trees and hail net cover for optimum bee flight
• Bees may become trapped in the netting when first introduced. These bees will die and be replaced by younger bees that have acclimatised to the conditions.
• Temporary removal of netting (or sections of netting) during flowering to allow bees to fly in and out and reduce numbers of bees trapped.

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Minimise competition from other flowering plants

Pear nectar is often less attractive to bees due to its low nectar content. This means if there are other flowering plants in close vicinity to the orchard, bees may be drawn away from the pears to forage. It is important to control flowering weeds around the orchard to minimise competition.

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Further Information

These Australian and international sites may be useful for growers. However they are intended as an information source only. Any specific chemical or other control recommendations may be outdated or irrelevant for Australian conditions and growers should seek local advice.

Please note: By electing to visit sites linking from this page you will be leaving the intensivepear.com website.

Australian Resources

Bee Pollination

• Bee pollination benefits for pear and nashi - Department of Agriculture Western Australia Bulletin (external link).
• Honeybee pollination of fruit tree crops - Victorian Department of Primary Industries Ag Note (external link).

Varieties for cross pollination

• European pear varieties - NSW Department of Primary Industries AgNote (external link).

References

Campbell, J. (2002). ' European Pear Varieties'. Retrieved January 2009 from http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/120217/european-pear-varieties.pdf

Middleton, S. and McWaters, A. (2002). ' Hail Netting of Apple Orchards - Australian Experience'. Compact Fruit Tree 35(2) : 51-55

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