Scientifically known as Pyrus communis, pears belong to the same family as apples. It is the second most popular fruit in the United States after apples. Pears have soft skin due to present of starch, which gets converted to sugar after the fruits are plucked from the tree for ripening. Pears are available is several colors, such as red, golden yellow and green, but the interesting part is that there are factors that affect the color development in pears.
While genes are responsible for the color of pear skin, there are many other factors that affects whether the skin color will be dark or light. For instance, sunlight appears to have an affect on the color development in pears. This is especially true for pears that have red coloration. It has been seen that when a part of a pear is not exposed to sunlight, anthocyanin does not develop in that portion, and as a result that part retains its greenish coloration. Enzymes required for development of anthocyanin require sunlight to work and when no sunlight is present, these enzymes cannot function as normal.
Another factor affecting color development in pears is the presence of nitrogen. When nitrogen levels are high in the fruit at the time of harvesting, it affects the coloration. Such fruits do not have high-intensity coloration. On the other hand, fruits with high potassium levels tend to have bright red color of the skin.
According to researchers, colors that tend to enhance elasticity of the skin cells appear to have an effect on the color development in pears. This is particular true for russet. It has been observed that fruits with high levels of gibberellins, which are responsible for enhancing skin elasticity in pears and apples, tend to reduce russeting.
The supply of carbohydrate to the fruit also has an effect on color development in pears. The more carbohydrate the fruits get, the deeper is the coloration, especially the red color of the pear skin. On the other hand, the less carbohydrate supplied to the fruit reduces the intensity of the coloration. Fruits get carbohydrate supply from leaves, so the number of leaves present around a fruit has an effect on its coloration. The more leaves present in close vicinity to the fruit, the more intense its coloration will be, as it gets adequate amounts of carbohydrate.
Of course, it goes without saying that a progeny plant will produce the same colored pears as its parents. However, the intensity of the coloration can be affected by several other factors. Hence, some pears are extremely red, while others may have a reddish tinge. And, all these pears may come from the same tree.
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Fruits Info: Pears
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Pear trees are often planted for enhancing the beauty of the surroundings as much as for the sweet fruits they bear. Growers in particular should be aware that these trees do not self-pollinate. Another pear tree must be available in the vicinity for pollination. The best and natural way of pollination occurs when honeybees get attracted to these trees and transport the pollens stuck to their body from the blossoms of one tree to the blossoms on other trees.