A recent study has shed light on the genetic variations involved in the domestication of pears, one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees. Conducted by research teams from Shandong Agricultural University and Nanjing Agricultural University, along with the Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, this research aims to improve breeding strategies for producing more resilient and high-quality pear varieties. The findings were published in the journal Horticulture Research in May 2025.
Genetic alterations are crucial for fruit trees like pears, which must adapt to diverse climatic conditions over time. While previous studies have focused on annual crops, the understanding of genetic patterns in perennial fruit trees has been limited. This study addresses that gap by exploring genetic diversity and mutation patterns across various pear species.
The research team analyzed over 9 million SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) across 232 pear accessions, identifying a total of 9,909,773 SNPs, including 139,335 deleterious mutations. The mutations were found to be concentrated in coding regions, with a notably higher frequency in Pyrus communis, the European pear, as compared to other species. The study highlights the effects of domestication on these mutations, revealing selective sweep regions that reduced deleterious mutations in P. pyrifolia and P. bretschneideri, while showing an increase in mutations in P. communis due to genetic drift.
Understanding these genetic alterations is essential for improving breeding strategies. The research identified the role of the PyMYC2 gene, which is linked to stone cell formation in pears. Overexpression of the PyMYC2 gene in pear callus cultures resulted in increased lignin and stone cell content, indicating its potential significance in breeding programs aimed at enhancing pear texture.
According to Professor Jun Wu from Nanjing Agricultural University, “This research provides valuable genomic insights into pear domestication, particularly in understanding how deleterious mutations shape agronomic traits. The identification of PyMYC2 as a regulator of stone cell content is a breakthrough that could significantly inform future breeding strategies.”
The implications of these findings extend beyond academic understanding; they offer actionable insights for breeding programs. By targeting genes like PyMYC2, breeders can develop new pear varieties that exhibit optimized traits, such as improved texture and greater disease resistance. The study also suggests that modern molecular breeding techniques, including genome-wide selection, can help mitigate the accumulation of harmful mutations in cultivated varieties.
Such advancements are vital for addressing the increasing global demand for high-quality pears, particularly in the context of climate change, which poses challenges to agricultural productivity. The research is supported by the National Science Foundation of China and several other funding bodies, underscoring the importance of genetic research in enhancing agricultural practices.
As the study illustrates, understanding the genetic foundation of pears not only enriches scientific knowledge but also paves the way for innovative approaches to breeding resilient and high-quality fruit varieties.
