Fig. 1: Accumulation of stone cells, lignin, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) during Nanguo pear fruit development at six developmental stages.

a Histochemical assays of lignin and ROS. Top panel: phloroglucinol-HCl-stained sections; bottom panel: DAB-stained sections. b Stone cell and lignin contents. c Hydrogen peroxide content. Error bars: standard deviations (three replications). d Heatmap of the cluster analysis derived from qRT-PCR results of 14 candidate lignin biosynthesis-related genes in the fruit flesh. Red: increased expression; blue: decreased expression