Free sugar and sorbitol content of pear cultivars (Pyrus communis L. and Pyrus serotina Rehd.)

Abstract

The fruit free sugar content, sorbitol and soluble solids of seventeen European pear cultivars (Pyrus communis L.) and four Asian pear cultivars (Pyrus serotina Rehd.) grown in Slovenia were determined. Pear fruits contain mostly fructose and sorbitol. The smallest contents of glucose and sucrose are in the cvs. 'Williams Bon Chrétien’, ‘Red Williams’ and ‘Rosired’. Asian pear cultivars contain on average more total sugars, especially glucose, in comparison to the European pear cultivars. Considerable differences of individual sugars contents were determined between various cultivars.