The application of sucrose to enhance fruit set in Packham’s Triumph pear

The objective of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness as well as the cost effectiveness (if proved effective) of sucrose applications in full bloom to improve fruit set in ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears.  Many fruit growers, especially in the EGVV region, were spraying sucrose in the believe, based on two foreign publications, that this increases fruit set.

In the 2011/12 season, a 10% sucrose application resulted in a significant yield increase. The same trend was observed in the 2012/13 season, but the effect was not significant. The project subsequently relocated to the Warm Bokkeveld area in the 2013/14 season to a very suitable orchard that usually blooms profusely.  None of the sucrose treatments were able to increase fruit set or yield in this orchard.

Based on our results, we cannot recommend the application of sucrose to increase fruit set in ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pear.  It could be that sucrose (or other sugars) may play a role as component of fruit set programmes, but we are not at liberty to discuss any such role.