The gritty nature of the pulp of fruits like pear and sapota is due to the presence of:

The correct option is D Brachysclereids
Macrosclereids, astrosclereids, osteosclereids and brachysclereids are types of sclerenchymatous cells.

Brachysclereids resemble parenchyma cells in shape but are made almost entirely of secondary cell walls. These non-living cells are also called stone cells because they form the "grit" in pear fruit.


Macrosclereids are rod-shaped sclereids that are generally found on the outer layer of the seed coat.


Astrosclereids are branched, pointed, irregular (often star-shaped) sclereids. They can be found in specialized tissues like the floating leaves of water lily.


Osteosclereids are also known as bone cells. It is a type of sclereid that forms the hypodermal layer in seeds, fruits and leaves of some plants (dicots).