Evaluation of pear cultivars for physico-chemical and mineral content under north-west india conditions

Fruits of fourteen hard, semi soft and soft Asian pear varieties (Pyrus spp.) were evaluated for physico-chemical characteristics under sub tropics of India. The values for fruit pericarp ‘b*’ coordinate indicating degree of yellow colour were observed > 40.0 (greenish-yellow) in ‘Baggugosha’, ‘Punjab Nectar’, ‘Punjab Nakh’, ‘Punjab Beauty’, ‘Tsu Li’ and ‘Orient’, between 35.0 to 40.0 (Green-yellow) in ‘Punjab Gold’, ‘Kieffer’, ‘Packham's Triumph’ and < 35.0 (Yellow-green) in soft pears cvs. ‘Nijisseiki’, ‘Hosui’, ‘Kosui’ and ‘Shinseiki’. Fruit hue angle (h*) among semi-soft and hard Asian pear cultivars ranged from 92.71 to 105.23 and in soft pear cultivars from 71.80 to 85.99. Maximum fruit weight and volume was observed in ‘Punjab Beauty’ (166.04g and 167.3 cc, respectively) and minimum in ‘Housi’ (77.77g and 76.0 cc, respectively). However, higher fruit length and diameter was registered in ‘Tsu Li’ (74.27 mm) and ‘Orient’ (68.76 mm) respectively. Juice TSS, acidity and ascorbic acid content ranged from 11.1 - 14.0%, 0.15% - 0.28% and 7.33 - 9.92 mg/100g, respectively. Likewise, variability among total, reducing and non reducing sugars was also observed among different pear varieties; where, proportion of fructose concentration was the highest followed by glucose and sucrose concentrations. Phenol content was maximum (78.92 mg/g) in ‘Punjab Nakh’ and minimum (54.31 mg/g) in ‘Kosui’ pear.