Question

Custard apple is an
A. Etaerio of drupes
B. Etaerio of berries
C. Etaerio of achenes
D. Etaerio of follicles

Answer 1

Hint:Scientific name of custard apple is Annona squamosa. The edible part of the custard apple is the inner layer of the pericarp and thalamus. Custard apples are classified under aggregate fruit.

Complete answer: Let's first remind how custard apples look?
It looks like many small oval-shaped pieces join together to form the whole fruit. The appearance of custard apple shows that custard apple is an aggregate fruit.
Aggregate fruits are formed from polycarpellary(have several carpals), apocarpous ovary (carpals that are not fused). Each carpel develops into a fruitlet and all fruitlets together form an aggregated fruit in other words all fruitlets combine to form the whole fruit. An aggregate of simple fruits borne by apocarpous ovaries of a single flower is otherwise known as ‘etaerio’. Aggregate fruits are:
An etaerio of achenes
An etaerio of berries
An etaerio or drupes
An etaerio of follicles
A custard apple is also an aggregate fruit. Custard apples are a group of small berries. Many berries are developed on the flash thalamus and apical parts of berries begin to fuse with each other and make custard apple.

So, the correct answer is an option (B).

Note: Fruits developing from the syncarpous ovary of the single flower with or without accessory parts is called simple fruit. For example Drupe.
Fruit developed from the entire inflorescence is known as multiple fruits. These fruits are two types-
1. Sorosis: These fruits develop from spike or catkin inflorescence. For example Pineapple.
2. Syconus: This fruit develops from hypanthodium inflorescence. For example Ficus.