The fruit is the fleshy structure of angiosperm plants that develops from the ovary after fertilization.
It corresponds to the flower's developed ovary with mature seeds.
The functions of the fruit are:
- Protection of developing seed;
- In some cases, it helps to disperse the seed;
- Promotes the propagation and perpetuation of the species.
The fruits act as a protective wrapping for the seeds.
However, not all types of fruit have seeds. These are called parthenocarpic fruits, as they are produced by parthenocarpy, a process in which fertilization does not occur. An example of a parthenocarpic fruit is the banana.
Fruit Parts
The fruit is made up of two fundamental parts: the fruit itself, also called the pericarp, and the seed. All parts of the fruit are derived from the flower.
The pericarp originates from the ovary wall and has three layers:
- epicarp: outer part of the fruit, also known as the skin.
- mesocarp: intermediate and more developed part. It is generally edible.
- endocarp: is the part that covers the cavity of the fruit. Because it is very thin, it can be difficult to identify and separate.
Classification of Fruits
Fruits are classified according to their varied characteristics:
ovary development
As for the development of the ovary, the fruits are classified into simple, aggregated and multiple.
Simple Fruits
Simple fruits originate from a single ovary and a single flower. Examples: tomatoes and cherries.
Simple fruits can be of the dry or fleshy type.
Dry fruits
Dried fruits are those that have a low water pericarp. Nutritive substances are concentrated in the seed.
Dried fruits are classified according to the opening of the pericarp, in the following types:
- dehiscent fruits: are those that the pericarp opens during ripening. Example: chestnut.
- indehiscent fruits: are those that the pericarp does not open naturally. Example: sunflower.
Fleshy Fruits
The fleshy fruits have a pericarp rich in water and nutritious substances.
The fleshy fruits can be further classified into:
- Berry: fruits with several seeds easily separated from the fruit. Example: guava, papaya and melon.
- drupa: fruits with seeds surrounded by a hard endocarp, also called stone. Example: olives, avocado and plum.
Aggregated Fruits
Aggregate fruits are those that originate from a flower with many separate ovaries. They are also called apocarpic fruits.
Example: magnolia.
Multiple Fruits or Infructescence
Multiple fruits develop from inflorescences, in which the many ovaries fuse and form a single structure.
Examples: Fig, pineapple and blackberry.
Number of Seeds
- Monospermic Fruits: are those with a single seed. Example: avocado.
- Polyspermic Fruits: are those with more than one seed. Example: orange.
fruit growth
Fruits only grow on plants angiosperms, which are developed vegetables.
They arise after pollination and fertilization of the oosphere. stimulated by plant hormones released by the embryo contained in the seed, the ovary undergoes hypertrophy and becomes a fruit.
When they ripen, the fruits take on colors, aromas and flavors that catch the attention of animals. It is nature's strategy to use animals as seed dispersers.
After ingesting the fruit, the animals drop the seeds away from the plant, allowing it to grow in other places.
Learn more about plant kingdom.
Fruit, fruit and pseudo fruit
The terms fruit, fruit and pseudo-fruit have different meanings:
- Fruit: is the result of the development of the flower's ovary.
- Fruit: popular term used for edible and sweet-tasting fruits and pseudo-fruits.
- Pseudofruit: any structure that resembles a fruit, but is not formed by the ripening of the ovary, but by other structures of the flower such as the pedicel and receptacle.
Complete your research. See:
- Plant Parts
- Sheets
- Types of flowers and their functions
- Root Types
- Stem Types
