Floral bud abortion has been one of the main problems of the pear orchards in Brazil. This problem is characterized by occurrence of necrosis in flower primordia of floral buds decreasing the potential of productivity of the crop. This research was carried out at EMBRAPA/CPACT, Pelotas, RS, aiming to evaluate the occurrence of flower bud abortion in pear trees of Pyrus communis, L., cvs. Packham’s Triumph, Bartlett and Red Bartlett and Pyrus pyrifolia [Burm.] Nak. cvs. 20th Century (Nijisseiki) and Shinseiki, collected in two locals of Rio Grande do Sul. The samples of flowers buds was collected in three times: April 23, June 03 and June 25 and observed inside by mycroscope. The highest percentage of necrotic primordia that occured until June 25, was observed in the buds of Packham’s Triumph (38.84%) followed by primordia observed in the trees of the two japanese cultivars ‘Nijisseiki’ and ‘Shinseiki’ (1.49% and 0.80%, respectively). Regarding to the places, there was higher incidence of flower bud abortion in Veranopolis than in Vacaria.
pear trees; floral abortion; bud necrosis; bud death
