Size matters: Factors influencing fruit size in pear
Fruit size is an important quality parameter determining fruit prices. Apart from the obvious genotype influence on fruit size, size is influenced by many other factors. In the case of the pear, the fruit is derived for the greater part from the floret receptacle and the base of the floral tube, sometimes referred to as pseudocarp. Therefore both the floral differentiation phase prior to anthesis as well as the development of the fruit after anthesis will determine eventual fruit size. During the phase prior to anthesis the number of cells that develop in the floral parts that will be incorporated in the fruit are of importance. These include climatic factors e.g., temperature, but also intraplant factors like crop load, bearing position etc. During the period following anthesis, final fruit size will be determined by two distinct periods, viz., the cell division stage followed by the cell enlargement stage. These stages are again influenced by a number of factors including climatic as well as intraplant factors which again can be influenced by horticultural practices.