Agriculture & Horticulture

Biography

Biography: Ashok Kumar

Abstract

Pear, (genus Pyrus), genus of some 20–45 trees and shrubs in the rose family (Rosaceae), including the common pear (Pyrus communis). One of the most important fruit trees in the world, the common pear is cultivated in all temperate-zone countries of both hemispheres. The fruit is commonly eaten fresh or is canned. It is used to produce perry, an alcoholic beverage. Several species, such as the Callery pear (P. calleryana), are grown as ornamentals. The common pear tree is broad-headed and up to 13 metres (43 feet) high at maturity. The trees are relatively long-lived (50 to 75 years) and may reach considerable size unless carefully trained and pruned. The roundish to oval leathery leaves, somewhat wedge-shaped at their bases, appear about the same time as the flowers, which are about 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide and usually white. Pear flowers are usually white or pink and have five petals and sepals; the bases of the five styles are separated. Pear fruits are generally sweeter and of softer texture than apples and are distinguished by the presence of hard cells in the flesh, the so-called grit, or stone cells. In Europe the main rootstock used is quince (Cydonia oblonga), which produces a dwarfed tree that fruits at an earlier age than most of the trees on pear rootstocks.