What is a fruit?
A mature structure formed from a fertilized ovary.
What are parthenocarpic fruits?
Fruits that develop without fertilization, also known as seedless fruits.
Name the two main parts of a fruit.
Pericarp and seed.
What are the three layers of the pericarp?
Exocarp (outer layer), mesocarp (middle layer), and endocarp (inner layer).
What are the three main categories of fruits based on their development?
Simple fruits, aggregate fruits, and multiple (composite) fruits.
What are simple fruits?
Fruits that develop from a single ovary.
Give an example of an aggregate fruit.
Strawberry or custard apple.
What are multiple fruits?
Fruits that develop from the ovaries of multiple flowers, e.g., pineapple.
What is a dry fruit?
A fruit where the pericarp becomes hard, woody, or fibrous upon ripening.
Name a type of dehiscent fruit.
Legume, e.g., cowpea or beans.
What is an indehiscent fruit?
A fruit that does not split open at maturity.
Give an example of an indehiscent fruit.
Nut, e.g., almond or groundnut.
What are fleshy fruits?
Fruits with soft, thickened pericarp layers.
Give an example of a drupe.
Mango or coconut.
What is a hesperidium?
A fruit with segmented chambers and a tough rind, e.g., orange or lemon.
What is seed dispersal?
The scattering of seeds and fruits from parent plants.
Why is seed dispersal important?
It prevents overcrowding, reduces competition, and promotes diversity.
Name one method of seed dispersal by water.
Seeds like those of water lilies and coconuts use buoyancy.
How are seeds dispersed by animals?
Seeds attach to animals via hooks or spines or are eaten and dispersed through digestion.
What is self-dispersal?
A mechanism where fruits eject seeds explosively, e.g., legumes or oil bean fruits.
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