Identification and registration of some native and commercial pear cultivars using morphological markers.

Pear (Pyrus communis L.) is a temperate and important species of fruit trees and significant germplasm diversity and local cultivars observe on Alborz and Zagros mountain forests. From hundreds of years ago, local germplasm have been grown and screened as local cultivars in various Iranian regions. Despite vast diversity of this species and its local cultivars, neither of these cultivars have been registered in international organizations. This research was carried out to register some main local commercial pear cultivars belong to the North-West (Azerbaijan), Central (Isfahan) and North-East regions of Iran. For this purpose, the first research phase focused on identification, ticketing and then followed by bi-ennal evaluation of selected cultivars, Shah Miveh, Sebri, Sardroudi, Se Fasleh, Natanzi, Seif Tabriz, Felestini, Tashkandi, Dar Gazi, as well as Ghosi. The vegetative and reproductive traits evaluated in 2008-2009, based on Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability National Guideline of Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Institute of Iran. All data of 67 traits from National Guideline were registered at the data bank, prepared for pear registration by the same institute, for 5 trees for each cultivar and 10 replications for each tree. The data acquisition has been organized based on a time table, demonstrating best period of sampling in all regions. At the second year all data were reviewed and checked for correctness and correspondence. Among evaluated cultivars, three cultivars, Tashkandi, Sardroudi and Seif Tabriz demonstrated vigorous growth habit, and all others categorized as medium or weak growth. Internodes length just in Se fasle, a local cultivar demonstrating dwarfing chracteristichs, was short that could be an interesting trait in cultivar and rootstock breeding programs in pear. In addition, significant difference among cultivars has been observed in leaf and fruit traits, enabling us to distinct the local cultivars easily from each other. Among leaf blade traits, form of leaf blade, shape of blade base, length and shape of pointed tips, incision of margins as well as cuticle appearance were among well-distinguishing traits and all evaluated cultivars demonstrated acceptable stability in these traits. Also, many useful traits in pear fruits, could be highly distinguishing, stable and suitable for local cultivar distinctness. These main traits were, color of skin, russeting in different area of fruit, relives around eye basin and fruit stalk, stability of sepals at the fruit maturation period, color of sepals, and position of highest fruit diameter, relative area of over color, fruit texture and juiciness, as well as fruit stalk diameter. All * symboled traits of National Guideline demonstrated significant diversity and could be useful factors for distinctness of Iranian local pear cultivars.