New pear cultivar suited to southern Brazil

A new pear variety is emerging in the industry. Developed by Embrapa Grapes and Wine (RS), BRS Áurea results from crossing the Asian Hosui pear with the European Abate Fetel, a process completed in 2006 in Vacaria (RS). After about 20 years of selection, agronomic testing, and validation under various growing conditions, it was officially registered in the National Register of Cultivars (RNC) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) in May 2025.

The BRS Áurea offers attributes appealing to both growers and consumers. In southern Brazil, it showed high yield potential of 25–30 tons/hectare and an early harvest, concentrated mainly in January. It also shows resistance to entomosporiosis, a major and economically destructive disease affecting this crop, and is less susceptible to fruit fly than the Rocha pear, a Portuguese variety sold in Brazil.

© Embrapa

Its medium to large, uniform fruits, weighing between 145 and 190 grams, are attractive to consumers. During ripening, the skin shifts from orange-yellow to a golden hue, which is the origin of the name ‘Áurea’. The flesh is white, crisp, and juicy, offering a well-balanced flavor.

This variety has been tested and validated in Rio Grande do Sul and is recommended for pear-growing areas that accumulate between 400 and 600 chill hours below 7.2 °C during the winter.

A key feature of BRS Áurea is its early ripening. In the conditions studied, harvesting occurs mainly from January 5 to 20, with a cycle of about 106 days from full bloom to ripening. This early harvest date improves fruit availability and can potentially extend the marketing period for pears in Brazil.

In a production chain heavily dependent on imports for a large share of domestic consumption, developing varieties suited to Brazilian conditions is crucial for the crop’s progress.

Besides its field success, BRS Áurea has demonstrated strong potential in post-harvest assessments. Experiments showed that the pears maintained good quality for consumption after 90 days of refrigeration at 0.5 °C, followed by seven days at 20 °C. In controlled-atmosphere storage, fruit kept for up to 165 days at 0.5 °C exhibited increased firmness when removed from storage.

Brazilian pear production remains below domestic demand. BRS Áurea offers a new, validated genetic option tailored to Brazilian conditions. This variety aims to diversify orchards and boost pear production in the southern region of the country.

For more information: www.embrapa.br