Question

Coconut fruit is dispersed by
(a) Air
(b) Animals
(c) Autochory
(d) Water

Answer 1

Hint: Seeds scattered by the means of water are encompassed within a lightweight and buoyant fruit, lending them the potential to float. Coconuts are recognized for their capacity to float on water in order to reach the land where they can flourish. Likewise, other similar examples are willow and silver birches that produce compact fruit that can float on water bodies easily.

Complete step by step answer:
Coconut fruit is dispersed by water. Cocos nucifera commonly known as Coconut palm belongs to the Arecaceae family.
The coconut seed is exceptionally well adapted to expand its range of dispersal of fruit and seeds by the method of aquatic dispersal. The seed floats when its external layers get parched out. The buoyant coconuts drift on ocean flows and land on tropical beaches where they develop into saplings and grow themselves.
The seed maintains its own stock of nutrition and water. The coconut palm embryos are nurtured by the white coconut meat endosperm. The water and meat are enclosed in a tough bony coating called the endocarp. The fragile little embryo is implanted in the food tissue near a germination pore.
The coconut's superficial husk insulates the internal seed from harm from the predating animals as well as the salty ocean water.
So, the correct answer is 'Water'

Additional Information:
The fruit retains a single purpose: the scattering of Seeds. Seeds contained within fruits need to be the seeds dispersed distant from the mother plant, so they may get at more favorable and less competitive conditions in order to thrive and evolve.

Note:
Dispersal of seed is split into two mechanisms
- Autochory when the seeds are dispersed by using the plant's own means.
- Allochory is the mechanism where the seed is distributed through external means.