- Biology Notes for UPSC IAS Prelims (Part II)
- Biology - Home
- Biology - Classification of Organisms
- Biology - Cell Division
- Biology - Virus
- Biology - Bacteria
- Biology - Fungi
- Biology - The Roots
- Biology - The Plant Stem
- Biology - The Plant Leaf
- Biology - The Flowers
- Biology - The Fruit
- Biology - Plant Diseases
- Biology - The Blood
- Biology - Blood Group
- Biology - Human Brain
- Biology - Skeleton System
- Biology - Endocrine System
- Biology - Endocrine Diseases
- Biology - Carbohydrate
- Biology - Proteins
- Biology - Fats
- Biology - Vitamins
- Biology - Minerals
- Biology - Genetic Terminology
- Organisms & their Chromosome Counts
- Biology - Viral Diseases
- Biology - Bacterial Diseases
- Branches of Biology
- Inventions & Discoveries in Biology
- Nobel Prize in Biology
Biology - The Fruit
Introduction
For the common people, fruits are nutritious and delicious edible things, but for a botanist, fruits are the seed-bearing structure found in flowering plants.
During the ancient period or even today, many of the animals including human beings are dependent on fruits (for their survival).
Likewise, fruit is usually fleshy seed-associated structures of a plant, which is edible in the raw state (not all types of fruits are edible, as some are poisonous) and tastes sweet or sour.
Structure of the Fruit
The layer, usually, surrounding the seeds, is known as ‘pericarp.’
Formed of ovary, pericarp is the edible part of fruit.
The pericarp further classified as epicarp, mesocarp, and endocarp.
Seedless Fruits
Some fruits are seedless (such as banana), which have pretty high commercial importance.
Further, some fruits are scientifically developed seedless such as pineapples, grapes, etc.
Types of Fruits
Based on the fertilization of the flowers, fruit is classified as −
True Fruits − When the fruit forms in the ovary (of the flower) through fertilization is known as true fruit. E.g. strawberry.
False Fruits − The fruits formed some other means (other than ovary), such as calyx, thalamus, corolla, etc. known as false fruits. E.g. pear, apple, etc.
Further, because of verities and diversities, fruits are classified as −
Simple fruit − It can be either dry fruit (such as coconut, walnut, etc.) or fleshy (such as gooseberry, tomato, etc.).
Aggregate fruit − It is formed from single flowers, which have multiple carpels. E.g. raspberry.
Multiple fruit − It is formed from a cluster of flowers, e.g. pineapple, mulberry, etc.
Fruits and their Edible Parts
Following table illustrates the name of fruits and their edible parts −
Fruits | Edible Parts |
---|---|
Apple | Thalamus |
Banana | Mesocarp |
Coconut | Endosperm |
Coriander | Thalamus |
Chinese date | Epicarp & Mesocarp |
Custurd apple | Pericarp |
Guava | Pericarp |
Grape | Pericarp |
Ground nut | Seed leaves |
Jack fruit | Sepals |
Lemon | Juicy pore |
Litchi | Pulpy aerial |
Mango | Mesocarp |
Mulberry | Bract, sepals |
Orange | Juicy hair |
Pear | Thalamus |
Papaya | Pericarp |
Tomato | Pericarp |
Wood apple | Mesocarp |