‘Hoshiakari’ is a new multiple disease-resistant cultivar for black spot and pear scab of Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai), released in 2014 by the Institute of Fruit Tree Science, NARO. The cultivar was developed from a cross between 314-32 (‘Kinchaku’ × ‘Hosui’) and ‘Akiakari’ in 1997, was selected as a promising tree in 2006, and included in the 8th national trial as ‘Nashi Tsukuba 56’ from 2007, which was conducted at 37 experimental stations in 36 prefectures throughout Japan. The cultivar was ultimately selected and released as ‘Hoshiakari’ in 2014, and was registered as No. 24373 under the Plant Variety Protection and Seed Act of Japan on June 19, 2015.
Tree vigor of ‘Hoshiakari’ was moderately weak in the national trial. They produced moderate number of shoots, moderate number of fruit spurs, and moderately large number of axillary flower buds. The flowering time of ‘Hoshiakari’ was April 13, one and five days earlier than those of ‘Hosui’ and ‘Kosui’, respectively. The harvest time was September 2, approximately 10 days later than that of ‘Kosui’, but one week earlier than that of ‘Hosui’, in the national trial. ‘Hoshiakari’ shows resistance to both black spot and pear scab diseases, and exhibits no significant pest problems under the standard spraying program. ‘Hoshiakari’ is cross-compatible with other leading cultivars as its S-genotype is S5Sk, which is different from those of other leading cultivars.
Fruit shape of ‘Hoshiakari’ is round to broad elliptical and uniformity of fruit is moderately bad to medium. Fruit weight averaged approximately 400 g in the national trial, comparable to that of ‘Kosui’ but smaller than that of ‘Hosui’. Flesh firmness of ‘Hoshiakari’ was 4.6 lbs, softer than ‘Kosui’. The soluble solid content averaged 13.5%, higher than that of ‘Kosui’ and ‘Hosui’. The juice pH averaged 5.2, lower than that of ‘Kosui’ but higher than that of ‘Hosui’. The eating quality of ‘Hoshiakari’ was comparable or superior than that of ‘Kosui’ and ‘Hosui’. ‘Hoshiakari’ is expected to be cultivated as a multiple disease-resistant cultivar, which is expected to require fewer applications and lower amounts of fungicides, compared to other leading cultivars.