Breeding of a new ornamental Pyrus ussuriensis‘Fanhua’

Pyrus ussuriensis‘Fanhua’, a new pear cultivar with excellent appearance, was selected from seedlings of natural hybridization of P. ussuriensis. From 2012 to 2015, a three-year comprehensive evaluation was conducted on the phenological phases, tree vigor, floral, foliar, shoot, and fruit characteristics of 52 natural seedlings of P. ussuriensis. Based on this evaluation, 5 individuals with excellent comprehensive traits and suitability for ornamental planting were preliminarily selected in early 2015. From 2017 to 2019, a three-year consecutive comprehensive evaluation was conducted on one of the elite line Pu-AT-1. The cultivar has strong tree vigor, with a semi-upright canopy. The one-year-old shoots are yellow brown in color, with average length and diameter of 63.0 cm and 5.0 mm, respectively. The average length of internodes is 3.95 cm. The number of flowers per unit cross-sectional area of the pear tree trunk is 43.44 flowers/cm2 . The average number of flowers per inflorescence is 6.8. The average corolla diameter is 4.25 cm. The flower buds are deep pink with an average of five petals and overlapping each other in relative position. In the initial stage of petal expansion, the top of the petals is pink. As the flower gradually opens, it turns white. The petals are ovate. There are five stigmas, which outgrow the stamens. The base of the stigmas has no pubescence. The average number of stamens (anthers) is 18.5, and they are deep purplish red. First bloom occurs very early. In Xingcheng area of Liaoning province, the first flowering occurs on April 8 and the full blooming on April 10, and the flowering period lasts 12 days, which is relatively long. This cultivar has strong cold resistance and is suitable for planting in cold regions such as Northeast China. It can be used for urban landscaping. It is suitable for cultivation in cold regions such as Northeast or Northwest China. This plant has a wide adaptation to soil conditions. Its roots can grow in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soils. To meet its basic growth requirements, the planting sites should have abundant sunlight to facilitate full photosynthesis and a well-functioning drainage system to prevent waterlogging. In urban greening, plant spacing can be selected according to landscape requirements, 3 m × 3 m or 3 m × 4 m.