Abstract
Present study was designed to seek the physico-nutritional and functional properties of different pear (Pyrus communis L.)
cultivars grown in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Six cultivars of pear [Nashpati (commercial cultivar), Farashishi,
Naakh, Koturnal, Botangi and Kashmiri Botangi (indigenous cultivars)] were harvested from private orchards located at
Rawalakot valley of District Poonch. Four replicates of twenty fruits were used for each cultivar to conduct different physical,
chemical, nutritional and sensory analysis. In terms of physical parameters, commercially grown Nashpati showed better results
as compared to other cultivars tested. However, indigenous cultivar Farashishi exhibited higher activity of ascorbic acid, total
phenolic content, total flavonoids, and total antioxidant activity. Sensory evaluation of these cultivars also proved that
Farashishi cultivar was good in taste, flavour and texture. These findings suggest that Farashishi cultivar has more health
promoting activities as compared to all other cultivars tested and hence, could be recommended for commercial scale
production in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir
