Botany Fruits

Fruit

• A mature, ripened ovary

• Provides protection for the enclosed seeds

• Aids in seed dispersal

• May contain one or more seeds

Normal Fruit

 - develops thru fertilization

Parthenocarpic fruit

 - develops without fertilization

 - GMO

Simple fruit

     - arises from a single ovary

     - classified into various kinds according to their consistency, structure, and dehiscenc

Aggregate fruit

     - develops from a single flower with several to many pistils

Multiple fruit

     - results from the development of separate flowers in a compact inflorescence

Accessory fruit

     - fleshy part is composed primarily of tissue other than the ovary

Dehiscent

pericarp splits open at maturity and releases the seeds

Indehiscent

retain their seeds and do not crack open after ripening

Berry

• Fleshy fruit

• Fruit wall is soft throughout

Pepo

• Modified berry

• Fruit wall is leathery rind

Hesperidium

• Modified berry

• Fruit wall is leathery with numerous oil glands surrounding the succulent cavities where the seeds occur

Pome

• Fleshy fruit

• Outer thickened fleshy layer, 

     leathery or stony case around the seed

Drupe

• Fleshy fruit

• Inner wall of fruit is hard and stone

Follicle

• Dry dehiscent fruit that splits open along one suture to release its seeds 

• Fruit is formed from ovary that

    consists of a single carpel

• Developed from simple, 

    superior and unilocular ovary

Legume or pord

• Dry dehiscent fruit that splits open along two sutures to release its seeds 

• Fruit is formed from ovary that consists of a single carpel

• Developed from simple, 

    superior and unilocular ovary

Capsule

• Dry dehiscent fruit that splits open along two or more sutures or pores to release its seeds

• Fruit is formed from ovary that consists of two or more carpels

• Develops from generally syncarpous, superior, one to many chambered ovary with many seeds

Silique

• Dry dehiscent fruit that separates at maturity into two or four segments called valves, leaving a persistent partition that bears the seeds.

Caryopsis

• Dry indehiscent fruit with pericarp firmly united all around the testa 

• Fruit wall is fused to the seed

Achene

• Dry indehiscent fruit with seed attached to the coat at one point only 

• Fruit wall is separate from the seed coat

Nut

• Dry indehiscent fruit that has a 

    stony wall 

• Usually large

• Does not split open at maturity

Samara

Dry indehiscent fruit with a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue develops from superior ovary

Schizocarp

Dry indehiscent fruit that splits into single-seeded parts when ripe

Aggregate Fruit

develops from a single flower with several to many pistils (i.e., carpels are not fused into a single pistil).

Multiple fruit

develops from the ovaries of a group of flowers.

Accessory fruit

a fruit whose fleshy part is composed primarily of tissue other than the ovary.

Epigean development

– cotyledon is pushed above the soil surface

Germination

beginning or resumption of seed growth

Hypogean development

– cotyledon remains below the soil surface

Water requirement

     - breaks dormancy

     - expands seed

     - washes out germination inhibitor

     - bursts seed coat

     - some plants germinate only in soil that is submerged 

       under water

Oxygen requirement

     - to produce energy for germination and growth

     - done through aerobic respiration

     - softens seed coat

Temperature requirement

     - optimum temperature is 25oC

     - seeds of woody plants in temperate climate

Self-dispersal

 - explosive fruits

    - popping mechanism for short 

      distance dispersal

    - detaches and blows across the 

      ground, scattering seeds as they 

      bump along

Animal dispersal

   - carry seeds on fur or feathers

   - attach and cling to animals 

   - eat edible fruits that contain seeds 

     and pass through digestive system 

     to be deposited later

   - collect and bury seeds (ants and 

     squirrels)

Wind dispersal

    - fruits and seeds may have special 

      devices for wind dispersal

    - some plants have seeds within 

      fruits acting as kites or propellers 

      that aid in wind dispersal

    - plant dries up and is blown 

      across fields and roads, 

      dispersing seeds as it tumbles

Human

    - seeds stick into socks, shoes, 

      and other clothing

    - vehicles and farm machinery 

      can get seeds and plant parts 

      caught underneath

    - removing the seeds from the cob 

      first and then planting them

Water seed dispersal

   - seeds of hard, dry fruits can float 

     and travel on the water until 

     washed up on shore 

   - coconut has air spaces that make it 

     buoyant and capable of being 

     carried by ocean currents

Nature

    - where nature fires are common, 

      many seeds require intense heat to 

      break dormancy

    - seedlings more abundant after fire 

      has cleared away competing 

      vegetation