Pollen viability and germination capability in three pear cultivars viz. Pathernakh, Punjab Beauty and Shinseiki were investigated up to 12 weeks (3 months) stored at different temperatures i.e. room temperature, refrigerator (40^oC), freezer (-20^oC) and liquid N (-120^oC). Viability was tested in 2 per cent acetocarmine solution whereas, for in Vitro pollen germination pollen grains were germinated in 10 percent sucrose solution at weekly intervals. The pollen viability and in Vitro germination percentages of the genotypes were significantly affected by storage temperatures. The pooled data for a period of two years revealed that average viability varied from 40.68% (Shinseiki) to 48.75% (Patharnakh) whereas, germination percentage varied from 34.93% (Shinseiki) to 42.81% (Patharnakh) among the cultivars under study. Pollen stored at low temperature (-120^oC and -20^oC) showed better viability and germination percentage as compared to pollen stored at room temperature and 4 ^oC. The cultivar Patharnakh had maximum viability and germination percentage when pollen were stored at -20 (67.40% and 59.62%, rsespectively) and -196? (68.06% and 61.83%, respectively), followed by Punjab Beauty and Shinseiki. The results indicate that pollen collected and stored at sub-zero temperatures from early blooming pear varieties can be stored for very long period without any appreciable loss of viability and germination and can be used along the whole blooming season for hybridization programmes by fruit breeders even at distant places for the development of new strains so as to widen the genetic base and create variability in pear.

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Fourteen pear varieties were screened under polyhouse conditions for their tolerance/susceptibility against entomosporium leaf and fruit spot disease. One year old healthy grafted plants of fourteen pear varieties were planted in 50 cm diameter plastic pots containing sterilized soil and were kept under polyhouse conditions equipped with sprinkler irrigation facility. The results revealed that only one cultivar i.e. Starkrimson exhibited immune reaction and six other cultivars viz., Fertility, Beurré hardy, Beurré Clairgeau, Clapp's favorite, Citron-Des-Carmes, and Max Red Bartlett were rated as moderately susceptible. The remaining cultivars viz.