<p>Gasification characteristics of pear branches in different atmospheres were studied in a fixed bed gasifier. The gasification characteristics investigated included the product distribution, char properties and tar composition, which were greatly affected by the reaction atmosphere. The addition of O₂ promoted the formation of CO and CO₂, but reduced the formation of H₂, and the obtained char had a larger specific surface area and more micropores. The inclusion of O₂ and steam increased the yield of H₂ and CO₂, but decreased the yield of CO, which also increased the pore size of the char, reduced the specific surface area and enhanced the char gasification reactivity. The FT-IR analysis results revealed that the addition of O₂ and steam obviously inhibited the formation of aromatics and ethers, and made tar more reactive. The conclusions of this study have important reference value for large scale utilization of biomass resources.</p>