Evaluation of four medlar cultivars: agronomical, pomological and qualitative traits

Medlar (Mespilus germanica L.) has been recently cultivated due to good potential for diversification of fruit production among the minor pome fruits. The species is subjected to high risk of erosion, since it is characterized by low genetic diversity. However, the genetic resources of cultivated and wild medlar are not well known. In the Italian nursery industries, only a limited number of cultivars are available, often characterized by absence of genetic fidelity. Therefore, a collection of the available medlar varieties has been established at the Experimental Orchard of Tuscia University, to carry out their pomological characterization and the evaluation of fruit quality and agronomical performance. The study has been focused on vegetative and productive behavior of the cultivars and on pomological traits, organic acids, sugars and sensory profile of the fruits. The investigated cultivars were ‘Gigante’, ‘Precoce’, ‘Comune’ and ‘Goccia’. All the genotypes were grafted onto quince rootstocks (Cydonia oblonga L.). The trees were trained in a free vase form. Soil has been ordinarily managed for weed control, and drip irrigation supply has been ensured during the summer period. The cultivar ‘Comune’, characterized by a high yield efficiency and good fruit quality, seems suitable for the establishment of specialized orchards for commercial purposes, while the low yielding cultivar ‘Gigante’ is interesting mainly for ornamental purposes.