Conference

Conference was originally developed at the East Malling research institute in England in the late 19th century. Today, it represents leading commercial autumn pear variety in Europe, highly valued for its resistance and stability.

It is characterized by exceptionally high and specific parthenocarpy. Conference can set parthenocarpic fruit without fertilization, but pollination increases fruit set, fruit size, and fruit quality; parthenocarpic fruit may be smaller or more irregular in shape. To achieve maximum and standard yields, the presence of pollinators is recommended: Williams, Santa Maria, and Beurré Bosc. It flowers medium-early.

The tree is low to medium in vigor, with an upright, orderly, and moderately broad pyramidal canopy that naturally spreads nicely under the weight of the crop. It enters full bearing extremely early, often producing a commercial crop as early as the second year after planting. Due to its compact growth and regular, abundant, and exceptionally reliable productivity, it is the most suitable variety for super-high-density and intensive commercial orchards with a high level of agricultural practice.

It belongs to the group of autumn pear varieties. In our region and under continental climatic conditions, it reaches harvest maturity in mid-September, usually between September 10 and 25, around 20 days after Williams.

Harvesting takes place in mid-September. The fruit must be picked exclusively at the stage of technological maturity, while it is still completely firm and deep green, before the flesh begins to soften. Timely harvesting ensures a record-long storage life.

It is characterized by extremely high and unsurpassed long-term storage ability. In conventional cold storage, it successfully retains full freshness for 4 to 6 months, while in modern ULO cold storage with controlled atmosphere it remains crisp and juicy until spring, for up to 7 months. Due to its firm flesh at harvest, it tolerates picking, rough mechanical sizing, packing, and long-distance transport perfectly, without the risk of crushing or skin browning.

The fruit is medium-sized to large, with an average weight of 160–220 g, noticeably larger on clone M20 compared to the standard variety. It is exceptionally uniform and has a characteristic elongated pyriform, gourd-like, or calabash-like shape, with a long stem. The skin is firm and pale yellow-green, while its lower and middle parts are specifically and attractively covered with natural russeting and russet netting. The flesh is pale yellow to light orange, exceptionally fine, buttery in texture, juicy, and completely melting in the mouth, without the presence of stone cells. The taste is premium, distinctly sweet, juicy, and refreshing, with a fine and rich varietal aroma.

It is a moderately resistant variety. It shows excellent natural resistance to pear scab on leaves and fruit, Venturia pyrina, and powdery mildew. It is moderately susceptible to fire blight, Erwinia amylovora, and susceptible to pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyri, which requires standard, regular, and timely preventive chemical protection during the growing season. It tolerates winter frosts very well.

Our pear fruit trees are produced on highly compatible and certified rootstocks. Since Conference has moderate to weaker direct compatibility with quince, in our nursery we produce it with an interstock, using the varieties Kaluđerka or Beurré Hardy, on vegetative rootstocks Quince M-A and Quince BA-29, which guarantees a perfect graft union, tree longevity, and ideal growth control in high-density orchards, as well as on generative wild pear rootstock, Pyrus communis, for drier and heavier soils.