ASSESSMENT OF VARIABILITY IN FRUIT QUALITY PARAMETERS OF PYRUS GERMPLASM COLLECTED FROM AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR (PAKISTAN)

Five districts of the State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (Pakistan) were explored for evaluation of 60 Pyrus accessions for their fruit quality. A considerable variability in organoleptic rating, chemical composition and post-harvest life was observed among the accessions. Fruits of all the accessions locally named as Frashishi and some ecotypes of Desi nashpati were distinguished as excellent for food quality, which was significantly better than those of other accessions. Five accessions locally called as Btangi remained at bottom in the evaluation criteria. Fruit samples of Frashishi accessions (MZ32, SD49, BG25 and SD40) had higher TSS and total sugar contents as compared to other accessions. The fruits of KT54 (Btangi) had the lowest TSS and total sugar contents. The maximum vitamin C content was recorded in RT11 (Glass) while the fruits of MZ33 and BG17 (both locally called as Btangi) had the minimum vitamin C content. The fruits of Kotharnul (BG21 and KT50) can be kept at room temperature for more than 21 days. However, most of the accessions locally referred as Frashishi possessed excellent and unique sensory properties but had comparatively less storability. The cluster dendrogram performed on the basis of studied parameters to assess pattern of diversity, differentiated accessions into four clusters and exhibited significant variability among the accessions. These results suggest that variability accounted for fruit quality was due to either genotypes or environmental conditions prevailing in the growing areas or interaction of both the factors.