Investigation on Some Morphological and Biochemical Characters of Some Wild Pear (Pyrus sp.) Genotypes in Guilan Province

There are 10 to 12 species of genus Pyrus in the Alborz, Zagros mountain chains and north of Khorasan in Iran. Despite of high genetic diversity, there is no comprehensive information about physico-chemical traits of fruits of wild pear genotypes. In present study, some physical and biochemical traits including total soluble solids (TSS), percentage titratable acidity (%TA), TSS/TA, pH, vitamin C, antioxidant capacity, total phenolics content, total flavonoids content and the flavonoids compositions (catechin and chlorogenic acid) were measured. The results indicated that there was significant differences (P<0/01) except for antioxidant capacity. Fruit weight differed from 39.57 to 132.74 g, fruit lenght from 38.45 to 62.86 mm, fruit diameter from 41.45 to 64.26 mm, total soluble solids from 9.34 to 13.64 (°Brix), titratable acidity from 0.29% to 1.38%, TSS/TA from 7.21 to 35.40 and pH from 3.25 to 5.05. Genotype of 493 had the highest value of total phenolics content. According to the results of HPLC, chlorogenic acid and catechin in genotypes of 475 and 485 (106.8, 2.03 mg kg-1 FW, respectively) was higher than others. The results provided important information about the fruit quality and physico-chemical traits of fruits of wild pear genotypes investigated that may be used for breeding programs.