Question

By hormone application, it is possible to obtain seedless fruits. In which of the following, it is undesirable to obtain seedless fruits?
A) Tomato
B) Orange
C) Watermelon
D) Pomegranate

Answer 1

Hint: Seed and fruit development are related processes that are controlled by internal signals and environmental cues. The absence of seeds is highly demanded by both consumers and producers because it increases the fruit quality and fruit shelf-life. The beginning of fruit growth is under the control of phytohormones.

Complete answer:
The processes of seed and fruit development are controlled by phytohormones. Fruit growth can be uncoupled from fertilization and seed development which is indicated by the existence of seedless mutant plants.

Oregon Cherry and Golden Nugget are varieties of cherry tomatoes, which are seedless. The best example of a seedless tomato is ‘Sweet Seedless,’ which is a classic garden tomato with sweet and red fruits.

A seedless orange is produced when the flowers from where the fruit is developed are not pollinated, as the anthers do not develop the pollen. The most popular varieties of seedless oranges are naval, Valencia and Jaffa.

Seedless watermelons were invented fifty years ago. Watermelon breeders found that crossing a diploid plant with a tetraploid plant results in a fruit that produces a triploid seed which is the seed that produces seedless watermelons.

Seedless pomegranate has not yet been invented. As the seeds of pomegranate are commercially required, part of the fruit, parthenocarpy cannot be done.

Therefore, the correct answer is option ‘D’.

Note: Seedless fruits can develop in one of the two ways. Either the fruit develops without fertilization which is called as parthenocarpy, or when pollination triggers fruit development, but the ovules or embryos abort without producing mature seeds which are known as stenospermocarpy. Disadvantage of seedless fruits is that there is a significant reduction in the genetic diversity of the species.