Pears and Apples

Pears and apples belong to the botanical family Rosaceae, or the rose family. The bark, foliage, and the form of the flower cluster in both types of trees are quite similar; however, the fruit produced by each is, of course, very different.

Apart from color, shape, texture, and taste, apples and pears differ quite dramatically in terms of their shelflife as well. Through tomographic imaging, plant biologists have found that breathing pathways in fruit affect the rate of decomposition and that, specifically, apples and the pears retain oxygen at different rates. Apples, for example, have cavities between their cells, whereas pears have tiny interwoven channels. With the availability of this knowledge, growers and suppliers can estimate ideal storage temperatures and extend the shelf life of each fruit.