PI 312509 was received by the USDA Plant Industry Station, Beltsville, Maryland on Mary 17, 1968. Scions were presented by the Research Institute of Pomology, Skierniewice, Poland.Tse Li (Ts Li) (PI 312509).--Grown in Shantung Province, Northern China for thousands of years. Fruit: large, 75 mm diam., 89 mm long, ovate-pyriform with no distinct neck, irregular, lumpy; yellow with large prominent tan lenticels; crisp, juicy, sweet, trace of tartness, distinct aroma; ripe mid-late September in Oregon, 4 weeks after Nijisseiki; stores 25 weeks at 0 C. Tree: large, upright, very early bloom, requires early blooming pollinator such as Ya Li. Cold hardy yet low chilling requirement, about 350-500 hours. -- Brooks and Olmo Registe of Fruit and Nut Varieties.
Hu (1937) reported that Tsu Li is an old and famous variety in the Shantung Province of Northeastern China, and that production is restricted to the Chucheng, Laiyang, and penglai districts. Kubo (1970) stated that Tsu Li was introduced into Japan from Laiyang in 1912 by Tetsuya Onta. -- W.H. Griggs and B.T. Awakiri. 1977. Asian Pear Varieties in California
Description: This plant can be found in northern and northeastern China, eastern Siberia, Manchuria, Korea, Amurland, and Ussuri. It is an old and famous cultivar in Shantung Province of Northeastern China. In the United States, Tse Li receives much attention due to its tendency to be resistant to fire-blight. However, because of its slow growth rate the USDA discouraged its use. The tree is large, vigorous, dense, and moderately productive. The fruit varies in size and shape. It can be found as ovate-pyriform in longitudinal section and circular to angular in transverse section. The tree is self-incompatible and self-unfruitful in most years. It requires cross-pollination for commercial fruit-set, and Ya Li pollen appears to serve this purpose best.