Molecular analysis of red colouration in 'Bon Rouge' pear (Pyrus communis L.)

Abstract

The 'Bon Rouge' pear cultivar was developed from a bud mutation on a 'Bon Chretien' pear tree. The latter is characterised by green fruit skin and leaves, while 'Bon Rouge' is characterised by red leaves and red fruit skin as a result of the production of anthocyanin and other pigments. Branch forming buds on 'Bon Rouge' trees often revert to the parent phenotype producing green leaves and fruit skin. The occurrence of both phenotypes on the same tree presents a unique model to study gene expression associated with anthocyanin production in a similar genetic background under the same set of environmental condition.