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Concorde (pear)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Concorde pear
GenusPyrus
SpeciesPyrus communis
Hybrid parentageConference × Comice
CultivarConcorde
OriginKent, United Kingdom

The Concorde is a cultivar of pear originating in England. A cross of the Conference and Comice varieties, it has some of the traits of both parents.

Cultivar history

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The Concorde was developed at the East Malling Research Station in Kent. After artificial pollination was completed in 1968, a number of candidate varieties were developed and the Concorde was selected as the best one in 1977. It was released commercially in 1994.[1] It received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993.[2]

Growing characteristics

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The tree of the Concorde pear is upright and moderately vigorous. It flowers about five days after its parent varieties, and like the Comice is a late harvest pear.[3] It is partially self-fertile, and is classed as group 3/4 in the RHS pollination groups. It is a regular cropper that can sometimes overproduce fruit, and it produces a first crop about a year earlier than most varieties.[1]

Fruit characteristics

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The Concorde's fruit is considered a blend of its parent varieties, with the elongated shape and crisp texture of its Conference parent combined with the sweetness of the Comice.[4] The fruit has a greenish color initially, becoming more yellowish with ripening, and may exhibit slight russeting.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Concorde Pear Tree
  2. ^ Plant details at the Royal Horticultural Society
  3. ^ European Pear Varieties, NSW Agriculture, pp. 10-11
  4. ^ Pear Varieties: Concorde