Evaluation of Pomological and Morphological Characteristics and Chemical Compositions of Local Pear Varieties (Pyrus communis L.) Grown in Gumushane, Turkey

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to investigate the fruit quality of twenty different local pear varieties (Pyrus communis L.), namely Ahlat, Ankara, Arpa, BA +/- ldA +/- rcA +/- n, Cermai, Cinci, Gelin Bogan, HacA +/- Hamza, HahA +/- r, Kabak, KA +/- zA +/- l, Kokulu, Mehrani, Menendi, Sulu, Aalgam, Tokat SultanA +/-, TurAYu, Yaz, and Yaz Meyrigi, grown in Gumushane province in terms of pomological and morphological characteristics and chemical compositions. The fruit mass, fruit width and length, fruit stem thickness and length, fruit kernel width and length, hardness of pulp, number of seeds, leaf width and length, leaf stem length and thickness, and water soluble dry matter (WSDM) of the pear fruits have been determined as pomological and morphological characteristics. On the other hand, the chemical compositions of the pear varieties have been evaluated in terms of protein, ash, sucrose, fructose, glucose, total sugar, titratable acidity, moisture, and mineral element levels. Both pomological and morphological results demonstrated that the local pear varieties are important in terms of rehabilitation studies and detailed selection studies on these local varieties should be performed. The chemical analyses result of the pear varieties revealed that there is no component that may be harmful to human health when consumed, and also these varieties contains the necessary amount of mineral elements.