Cultivar 341: Thomas

Thomas is a prairie pear introduced by the University of Saskatchewan in 1960. Its recorded parentage is Pyrus ussuriensis x Bartlett. It also appears as PR No. 17 in the university's introduction list. This places it among the hardy Ussurian hybrid pears bred for prairie testing, though its Bartlett side suggests dessert pear quality more than extreme hardiness. [S1] [S3]

Sources describe Thomas as a medium sized, nearly spherical pear, about 5.5 x 5.5 cm or roughly 2 1/4 x 2 1/2 inches. The skin is greenish yellow, and the flesh is creamy white. Under Saskatoon field conditions without irrigation, the flesh was noted as very firm and able to hold well, with the skin coloring before the fruit breaks down. Quality was rated fair rather than high, but it was considered a good keeper and suitable for processing. [S1] [S2] [S3]

Its season is late. One source places maturity in late September to early October. The prairie index also lists it simply as late. [S1] [S3]

Thomas seems to have been introduced with some promise but without a settled reputation. A 1976 Saskatchewan source calls it the most recent introduction, says it was not fully tested, and suggests it lacked hardiness except in Zone 3B. This makes Thomas notable less as a broadly proven prairie pear than as an example of the University of Saskatchewan's effort to push pear breeding beyond the hardest Ussurian types toward larger, firmer fruit with better keeping quality. [S2] [S3]

Summary source basis

• S1: An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies.
• S2: hortfacts_1976_3.pdf
• S3: University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960

This summary currently draws chiefly from An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies., with 3 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“The most recent introduction and not fully tested.”
— ^[4]

“Maturity: Late.”
— ^[3]

“Would appear to lack hardiness except for Zone 3B.”
— ^[4]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Origin listed as P. ussuriensis x 'Barlett'.
• Parentage listed as P. ussuriensis x Bartlett.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• PR No. 17 Thomas P. ussuriensis x Bartlett 1960 2 1/4" x 2 1/2" under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, spherical, late Sept. to early Oct., flesh very firm which holds up well, skin colours before fruit breaks down; quality fair and fruit a good keeperUniversity of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p6
• PR No. 17 Thomas P. ussuriensis x Bartlett 1960 2 1/4" x 2 1/2" under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, spherical, late Sept. to early Oct., flesh very firm which holds up well, skin colours before fruit breaks down; quality fair and fruit a good keeperUniversity of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p6
• PR No. 17 Thomas P. ussuriensis x Bartlett 1960 2 1/4" x 2 1/2" under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, spherical, late Sept. to early Oct., flesh very firm which holds up well, skin colours before fruit breaks down; quality fair and fruit a good keeperUniversity of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p6
• PR No. 17 Thomas P. ussuriensis x Bartlett 1960 2 1/4" x 2 1/2" under field conditions, without irrigation at Saskatoon, spherical, late Sept. to early Oct., flesh very firm which holds up well, skin colours before fruit breaks down; quality fair and fruit a good keeperUniversity of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p6

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context