Question

Aggregate fruit develops from a single flower with
a. Free ovaries
b. Fused ovaries
c. Non functional ovaries
d. Transversely arranged ovaries

Answer 1

Hint: Ovary is a part of the female reproductive system of a flower. These can be single or multiple. These can be fused or not fused. These mature and form the fruit after fertilisation.

Complete answer:
- Aggregate fruit is a fruit which develops from the merger of ovaries which were placed separately in a single flower. In the case of a single flower it develops from a single flower. For e.g. raspberry is an aggregate fruit. It is formed by an aggregate of drupelets. So the correct answer is A ie free ovaries. In case of sugar apple which is an aggregate fruit it is formed by berry like pistil which are fused on the receptacle.
- Aggregate fruit is different from multiple or compound fruits.
- Accessory fruits is a fruit where a part other than the ovary of the flower forms the fruit.
- In case of non-functional ovaries there won’t be any fruit formation.
- For eg grapes are a cluster as a bunch but each grape forms from a single flower with a single ovary.
- Multiple fruit is formed from ovaries of several flowers.
- Compound fruit is an unclear term.
- Free ovaries are commonly seen in a single flower.
- Fused ovaries are seen in aggregate fruit.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: Aquilegia flower has one fruit with multiple ovaries in a single flower but these ovaries are not fused. So this is not called as an aggregate fruit. Aggregate fruits can also be called accessory fruits when some other part of the flower other than ovary becomes fleshy and forms the fruit.