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ALBRANDO, BENEDICTO, DE CHAVEZ, OBCIANA, PILAR, SAN AGUSTIN (BSA IV) “FRUIT: THE SEED DISPERSAL VEHICLE”

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”

II. GENERAL INFORMATION


Atlantic giant pumpkins
In a large number of plants, fruits are the parts that contain the seeds necessary for the growth
of the next generation of the plant. Fruits are some of the most commonly consumed plant products in the world
due to a large number of vitamins they contain as well as other health benefits. One of the most famous fruits in
the world is the Atlantic giant pumpkin which currently holds the world record for being the largest and heaviest
fruit on earth. The Atlantic Giant Pumpkin has been known to grow to a weight of over one ton.
Mango: Sweetest fruit known on the earth
People prefer to eat mango not because of its health benefits but because of its yummy taste. It
is the sweetest fruit known on earth. The reason is that it contains too much fructose--a type of sugar but be alert!
If you are a diabetic patient, you must not eat it as it increases your blood sugar level.
Mango: National fruit of 3 countries
Though it is grown in many parts of the world, three countries selected it as national fruit .The
names are: Pakistan, Philippines, and India. In India, harvest and sale of mangoes is during March - to - May where
as in Pakistan harvest and sale is during April - to - July. Not confirmed about Philippines.
Mango: The only fruit which has varieties
Not yet any other fruit has too many varieties .Mango is the only fruit which has about 50 varieties
.of which I have tasted 6 .I am a dweller of Pakistan .10 varieties are available in my native country namely Sindhri
mango,Chaunsa mango,Langra mango,Anwar Ratole mango,Dusehri mango,Saroli mango,Fajri kalan
mango,Neelum mango,Summer Bahisht mango and Alphano mango.

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.

IV. ANATOMY AND STRUCTURE


A fruit is composed of the pericarp and the seed. Pericarp is the
ovary wall which surrounds the seed (seed container). It has three
regions: exocarp/epicarp, mesocarp, endocarp.

Parts of the Pericarp:


1.Exocarp/Epicarp - outer part, skin of the fruit 2.Mesocarp - middle
part, flesh of the fruit. 3.Endocarp - inner part, encloses the seed.

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

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