Question

What are parthenocarpic fruits?
(a) Fruits enclosed in pods such as pea
(b) Fruits formed without fertilization
(c) Very hard fruits
(d) Fruits with more than one seed at their center

Answer 1

Hint: A variety of fruits such as the pineapple, banana, cucumber, grape, orange, grapefruit, persimmon, breadfruit are examples of naturally occurring parthenocarpy. Parthenocarpic fruits can be produced by artificial pollination.

Complete answer:
When fruits are produced without fertilization of ovules, which makes the fruit seedless, such fruit is called parthenocarpic fruit.
Benefits of Parthenocarpy:
1. This is healthier and the results are achieved easily.
2. It provides seedless fruits and improves its quality.
3. It reduces the cost of cultivation, so, an economically viable option.
4. It improves crop yield without using organic pesticides.
5. The plant growth regulators are natural and the fruits produced are larger.
6. Parthenocarpy keeps the insects and pests away without the use of chemicals because there is no requirement of pollinating insects for the formation of fruits. This protects the plants from being attacked by the pesticides.
So, the correct answer is ‘Fruits formed without fertilization’.

Additional information:
- Parthenocarpy (or stenospermocarpy) is a type of mutation and occurs occasionally, for example, watermelon.
- In some plants, pollination or another stimulus is required to show parthenocarpy, termed as stimulative parthenocarpy.
- Plants that do not require pollination or another stimulus to produce parthenocarpic fruit have vegetative (propagation achieved by asexual means) parthenocarpy, for example, seedless cucumber.
- The application of synthetic growth substances in the form of a paste, by injection, or by spraying, also causes parthenocarpic development.
- The hormone gibberellin is very effective in producing seedless grapes and is the active component in preparations used to prevent premature dropping of fruit.

Note: Parthenocarpy can also be induced in the plant by exposure of the stigma to indoleacetic acid (IAA), naphthoxyacetic acid, indole butyric acid, naphthaleneacetic acid, or other synthetic hormones.