Smoother Conference pears are more attractive and sell better, which is why pears grown on Q-Eline rootstocks are more popular among consumers. Trials carried out by the renowned Dutch research organisation PPO have shown that Conference pears grown on Q-Eline show less bronze colouring, and are hence smoother and greener than those obtained with the quince rootstocks C, Adams, C132 and MH.
The Q-Eline pears consequently also offer potential for, say, the British and German markets, whose consumers tend to dislike pears with heavily russeted skin.
An added advantage is that a smoother pear also has a smaller skin area, which means that less moisture will evaporate and the pear will dry out less.