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I. INTRODUCTION
Fruit, the fleshy or dry ripened ovary of a flowering plant, enclosing the seed or seeds. Botanically,
a fruit is a mature ovary and its associated parts. It usually contains seeds, which have developed from the
enclosed ovule after fertilization, although development without fertilization, called parthenocarpy, is known, for
example, in bananas. Fruits are important sources of dietary fibre, vitamins (especially vitamin C), and
antioxidants. Although fresh fruits are subject to spoilage, their shelf life can be extended by refrigeration or by
the removal of oxygen from their storage or packaging containers.
A. CLASSIFICATIONS
I. SIMPLE FRUITS - Developed from one single ovary containing one or more carpels and may or
may not include additional accessory structure.
A. Fleshy Fruits - Its pericarp and accessory parts develop into succulent tissues. One or more
layers of the pericarp become soft during ripening. Its pericarp is fleshy at maturity (soft pericarp).
1. Berries - Have one to many seeds and a pericarp that becomes soft and often sweet and slimy as it matures. Ex.
Grapes, eggplant, tomatoes, green peppers, blueberries, mangosteens, guavas, bananas, ampalaya,
papaya
2. Hesperidia - Have leathery pericarp that produces fragrant oils and soft segmented pulp. Ex. All citrus fruits
3. Pepos - Have thick or hard exocarp. Have a receptacle that partially or completely encloses the ovary. Ex.
Pumpkins, cucumber, squashes, cantaloupes, watermelons
4. Pomes (Accessory Fruit) - Its bulk is formed from a swollen receptacle. Have a thin exocarp and a papery
cartilaginous mesocarp. Ex. Pears, apples
B. Dehiscent Dry Fruits - Have hard texture and wood-like leathery appearance. Split open at
maturity to shed seeds.
1. Follicles - Have single carpel. Open along one seam when the seeds are to be released. Ex. Milkweed,
columbines, peonies, magnolia
2. Legumes/Pods - Derive from a single carpel. Split into two seed-bearing halves. Ex. Garden peas, beans, peanut,
mesquite
3. Siliques - Seeds reside on a partition between halves of the ovary. Ex. Mustard plant, watercress
4. Capsules - Derived from compound ovaries. Two or more carpels, split along seams or forming caps or pores. E.
Eucalyptus, horse chestnut, kapok
C. Indehiscent Dry Fruits - Have hard texture and wood-like leathery appearance. Remain closed
at maturity, thus, leaves their seeds inside them
1. Nuts - Have hard thick pericarp and a basal cup. Ex. Acorns, hickory nuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts
2. Achenes - Have thin pericarps and solitary seed. Seeds connect to the pericarp only at the base. Ex. Sunflowers,
buttercups
3. Samaras - Have thin pericarps. Seeds occur in pairs and have wings that allow dispersal by the wind. Ex. Elm,
ash, maple, narra
4. Caryopses/Grains - Have hard pericarp fastened to the embryo all the way around. Ex. Grass family
II. AGGREGATE FRUIT - From one flower that produces many tiny fruits (fruitlets) clustered
together (etaerios). Ex. Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries
III. MULTIPLE FRUIT - From many different flowers or cluster of flowers develop closely to form a
bigger fruit. Ex. Pineapples, mulberries, figs, breadfuits, langka, atis, durian
ALBRANDO, BENEDICTO, DE CHAVEZ, OBCIANA, PILAR, SAN AGUSTIN (BSA IV) “FRUIT: THE SEED DISPERSAL VEHICLE”
III. FUNCTIONS
Its primary function is to distribute seeds to new areas where the plant might grow. It is the seed
dispersal vehicle. The methods of dispersion are through animals, water, wind and attachment. Secondarily, it
protect seeds; acts as physical barriers between seeds and environment.
V. REFERENCES
http://www.bitlanders.com/blogs/worlds-sweetest-fruit/5416443
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-is-the-largest-and-heaviest-fruit-in-the-world.html
Capili, N. L. (n.d). General Botany: Laboratory Manual