Pear mutagenesis: In vitro treatment with gamma-rays and field selection for vegetative form traits

In vitro shoots of four pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars, 'Conference', 'Doyenné d'Hiver', 'Passe Crassane' and 'Bartlett', were irradiated with gamma rays (3.5 Gy). Around 1000 microcuttings of each cultivar were treated. After three subcultures, microcuttings from both the irradiated shoots and additional non-irradiated shoots were rooted; plants obtained were used to establish a survey orchard in Ostellato (Ferrara), Italy. For the first 2 years in the field, growth and survival were observed, but no data were collected. Subsequently, field surveys were conducted to characterize the population and identify mutants for vegetative traits. Trees that showed phenotypic evidence of vegetative growth characteristics more desirable than those shown by the overall population and by control plants were selected and measured for three years. Traits used for selection were small tree size, wide branch angle and short internodes. Frequencies of variants with compact habit varied with cultivars from 0.5% to 2.7% of irradiated trees. Effect of mutagenic treatment and efficacy of the selection methods are discussed.