Biochemical and pomological assessment of European pear accessions from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The research on 10 old and indigenous pear cultivars was conducted during 2012 and 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The following characteristics were determined: fruit weight, fruit length and width, stalk length and width, fruit flesh firmness; soluble solids content and total dry matter content of the fruit juice; pH, titratable acidity, vitamin C, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of the fruit cell juice. On the basis of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of pomological fruit characteristics the studied cultivars were divided into four main groups. Based on the PCA of biochemical traits the studied cultivars can be divided into three groups. Extremely high phenolic content in the cvs Mioljnjaca, Zutica, Poljakinja, Karamut and Gradiscanka recommends them for their inclusion in a breeding programme. The cvs Mioljnjaca and Poljakinja are also characterised by large and firm fruit and since the antioxidant capacity affects the duration of fruit storage, it is expected that these traditionally grown varieties can survive longer and keep their valuable nutritional ingredients longer.