Pears turning brown from bottom - Ask Extension
I live in MN- I don't what kind of pear tree I have, but there seems to be a problem this year. Almost every pear is turning brown from the bottom up....
Knowledgebase
Pears turning brown from bottom #347747
Asked July 28, 2016, 9:03 PM EDT
I live in MN- I don't what kind of pear tree I have, but there seems to be a problem this year. Almost every pear is turning brown from the bottom up. I can scratch the "film" off with my fingernail (see pic). The leaves all look fine.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
The closeup of a single pear looks like russeting. Russeting is an abiotic disorder which has a cluster of causes, including weather, variety and fungicide use. The fruit should still be edible. Here is a reference:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/yard-and-garden-apples-and-pears
However, the picture of the whole tree gives me pause and makes me think this might be blossom end rot:
https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource004563_Rep6502.pdf
Unfortunately, BER will damage the fruit (and has equally mysterious causes).
You should be able to tell the difference between these two disorders. Russeting will not affect the fruit, but BER will.
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/yard-and-garden-apples-and-pears
However, the picture of the whole tree gives me pause and makes me think this might be blossom end rot:
https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource004563_Rep6502.pdf
Unfortunately, BER will damage the fruit (and has equally mysterious causes).
You should be able to tell the difference between these two disorders. Russeting will not affect the fruit, but BER will.
