Relationship among Entomosporium severity, defoliation, and vegetative-reproductive variables in pear in Brazil

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationship among Entomosporium severity, defoliation, and vegetative-reproductive variables of three European pear cultivars in Southern Brazil. The Packham’s Triumph, Abate Fetel, and Williams pear cultivars were assessed regarding Entomosporium severity, defoliation, and natural leaf fall every two weeks, from the appearance of the first symptoms at the beginning of January until the end of April, during the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 crop seasons. The vegetative and reproductive variables were evaluated in July, during the dormant period. Data on Entomosporium severity were integrated over time and converted into the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The coefficient of determination (R2) of the linear regression of Entomosporium severity versus defoliation was significant for all studied cultivars and crop seasons. Defoliation in trees affected by Entomosporium was significantly higher than natural leaf fall in the control trees protected by fungicides. A negative correlation was observed among defoliation, branch fertility index, and plant height, indicating that the higher the defoliation, the lower the development of the vegetative and reproductive variables plant height and vigor. Entomosporium severity differed significantly among cultivars when the AUDPC was considered the differentiating epidemiological variable. The Abate Fetel and Williams pear cultivars are the most susceptible and resistant to Entomosporium, respectively.