ABSTRACT
Apples, Malus domestica Borkh., and pears, Pyrus communis L, are the most important temperatezone fruits. They originated in Asia Minor and spread east and west; they have been cultivated in Europe and western Asia since pre-historic times. In recent centuries they were established in North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and are also grown in the cool highlands of some subtropical regions such as northern India and east Africa. Thousands of cultivars have been bred, of which a limited number are of commercial significance (5,10). Oriental or Asian pears are separate species. Pyrus ussuriensis var. sinensis is widely grown in China, while Pyruspyrifolia (Burm. f.) Nakai (syn. P. serotina Rehder) is of great importance in Japan, where it is known as 'nashi'.
