PREVENTING pear rot

摘要

Orchard management can play an important role in minimizing postharvest decay in pears, says Dr. David Sugar, pathologist with Oregon State University in Medford. For example, overabundant nitrogen promotes excess vigor in the trees, which tends to result in more nitrogen being shifted to fruit, and fruit with high nitrogen levels are prone to decay. High nitrogen in the trees, as well as a low crop density, increases competition between the shoots and fruit for cal- cium, resulting in low fruit calcium.