Bursa Santa Maria Armudu

Bursa Santa Maria Pear is a summer pear variety belonging to the species Pyrus communis and is geographically indicated and registered in Türkiye’s Bursa province. Known as the Santa Maria variety, this fruit is large and conical in shape, distinguished by its pale yellow skin and pinkish-red blush on sun-exposed surfaces. Its white, moderately juicy and sweet flesh can be stored for long periods due to low acidity and high firmness. The Bursa Santa Maria pear is propagated exclusively by grafting onto rootstocks and is cultivated in the permeable, organic matter-rich soils and climatic conditions of the Bursa Plain, where these environmental characteristics directly contribute to the fruit’s quality and aromatic profile.

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This pear, cultivated in Bursa province and specific districts of Türkiye, is classified under the group of processed or unprocessed fruits, vegetables and mushrooms and has been registered as a geographical indication under the “name of origin” category. Registration number: 1290, registration date: 16.12.2022, application number: C2021/000492, application date: 24.11.2021. The registering institution is the Gürsu Chamber of Agriculture.

The Bursa Santa Maria pear is cultivated in the Gürsu district of Bursa province; the neighborhoods of Narlıdere, Dudaklı, Serme and Barakfaki in the Kestel district; the neighborhoods of İsabey, Vakıf and Samanlı in the Yıldırım district; and the neighborhoods of Armutköy, Çukurcaköy, Dereçavuşköy, İsmetiye, Panayır, Yeniceabat and Yunuseli in the Osmangazi district. This geographical boundary is a depression basin formed by alluvial deposits carried from Uludağ and Katırlı Dağları. Its elevation is 155 meters above sea level. The region’s climatic and soil properties directly influence the pear’s morphological and biochemical characteristics.

The annual average air temperature in the Bursa Plain is 14.4 °C and the soil temperature is 16.6 °C. The region is protected from cold northerly winds originating from Uludağ and Katırlı Dağları. The frost-free climate of the plain and the groundwater supply from snowmelt flowing into the plain during the year are decisive for fruit development. The soil structure is rich in organic matter and nutrients due to the influence of lake deposits. The Santa Maria pear thrives in permeable, deep, warm and organic matter-rich soils.

The Bursa Santa Maria pear is large, large-medium or medium-sized and conical in shape; its surface is smooth, the neck is elongated and the base is broad. Upon ripening, the skin turns pale yellow with pink and red blush on sun-exposed areas. The flesh is white, sweet and moderately juicy. Skin thickness ranges from 0.34–0.43 mm, background color hue from 112–117, fruit weight from 180–200 g, flesh firmness from 5.5–6.7 kg/cm², soluble solids content from 10.4–12.0%, malic acid content from 0.56–0.62 ml/100 ml, fruit juice pH from 3.70–4.32, and total phenolic compound content from 1.075–1.105 mg/100 g GAE. The fruit is distinguished by its thin skin, light color, low acidity and high gloss. High levels of soluble solids and flesh firmness enable long-term storage; the fruit can be stored for up to 10 months in cold storage facilities.

The fruit’s aromatic profile consists of aldehydes (%8.41), alcohols (%6.37), esters (%44.99) and other compounds (%16.33 α-farnesene). Key aroma compounds include hexanal, E-2-hexenal, 1-hexanol, ethyl butanoate, hexyl acetate and α-farnesene. Esters constitute the most concentrated group of aromatic compounds.

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As a cultivated variety, the Bursa Santa Maria pear is propagated exclusively by grafting onto rootstocks, not by seed or cuttings. The rootstocks used in production are dwarf or semi-dwarf types (BA29, MC, Queens A, OHF333) or wild pear rootstocks.

Soil preparation is carried out before orchard establishment. Healthy, grafted, one-year-old saplings are preferred for planting. Spacing varies according to rootstock type: 4.00 x 1.25 m for BA29 and Queens A rootstocks; 4.00 x 0.50 m for MC; 4.50 x 2.00 m for OHF333; and 5.00 x 5.00 m for wild pear rootstocks. These spacings may be adjusted based on soil structure and management practices. Saplings are planted between November and February with the graft union positioned above soil level. Pruning is applied during planting.

Soil Management: Orchards are surface-tilled after harvest in autumn using a rotary hoe or disk harrow. In spring, before plant dormancy ends, a superficial tillage is performed to control weeds.

Irrigation: Irrigation is applied from early April to mid-July. Drip irrigation systems are preferred for dwarf and semi-dwarf trees, while the spring method is used for standard-sized trees. As this is a summer variety, excessive irrigation can negatively affect fruit storage life.

Fertilization: Composted organic fertilizers are applied during autumn soil preparation. Nitrogenous and other nutrient fertilizers are applied during spring and summer either through soil application or drip irrigation. Fertilizer quantities are determined based on soil analysis results.

Pest and Disease Control: Major diseases and pests include fire blight, black spot, mammalian rust, codling moth, pear leaf blister mite, pear psylla and scale insects. Spraying is carried out at dosages prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s early warning system. In young orchards, selective and careful weed control measures are applied.

Pruning and Thinning: Pruning systems appropriate to the rootstock type are applied to saplings. Excessive pruning is avoided during shaping. Annual dormant pruning is performed to improve fruit quality and facilitate disease and pest control. In years of high yield, thinning is carried out in early June while fruits are still small; excess fruits are removed so that no more than two fruits remain per spur or one fruit per 20–30 leaves.

Harvest timing varies according to elevation; it begins in mid-July and shifts to later weeks as elevation increases. Harvest timing is determined by skin color, ease of detachment from the branch, flesh firmness and sugar content. Harvesting is done manually with the fruit stem attached. Collected fruits are placed in 6–7 kg buckets and then sorted into 4–4.5 kg or 18–20 kg crates.

Crated fruits are transported exclusively to cold storage facilities designated for Bursa Santa Maria pears. Fruits are pre-cooled to 0 °C and then stored at temperatures of -1 or -1.5 °C with 80–90% relative humidity. Under these conditions, fruits can be preserved for approximately 10 months.

In packing houses, fruits are sorted in crates according to firmness, shape, color and quality criteria. Fruits are graded by size and packed into ventilated or deep crates as required for market distribution.

The inspection process is coordinated by the Gürsu Chamber of Agriculture and carried out by an inspection board comprising one expert each from Bursa Uludağ University Faculty of Agriculture, Bursa Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, and Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Lapseki Vocational School Food Processing Program. A regular inspection is conducted once per year during the harvest period in July and August. For newly established orchards, two inspections are carried out annually: one in February or March and another at the start of the harvest season in July. The inspection board may conduct additional inspections when deemed necessary, particularly in cases of complaints or suspicion.

During inspections, inventory data including number of producers, orchard size and location (island, parcel), number of trees, irrigation methods and quantity of product delivered from storage to market are recorded. The condition of saplings, irrigation conditions, harvest timing determination and harvesting process are monitored in newly established or newly planted areas of existing orchards.

The inspection board verifies the suitability of pear varieties used and ensures compliance of orchard establishment, cultivation practices, harvesting, storage and marketing stages with the approved production method. It also examines the fruit’s shape, weight, skin color and quality characteristics, as well as the correct use of the designation “Bursa Santa Maria Pear,” its logo and origin emblem.

The board may obtain support or services from public or private institutions or their designated experts as needed. The registering institution manages legal procedures to protect the geographical indication rights.

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