Question

Define parthenocarpy and its economic importance.

Answer 1

Hint: Parthenocarpy is the production of fruit without fertilization of ovule. Its economic importance is in the production of fruits in which pollination is difficult.

Step by step answer:Parthenocarpy is the production of fruits without fertilization or production of fruits which are seedless. It is used to produce fruits in plants in which pollination is not that easy.
It can also be used in dioecious (unisexual) plants for the production of fruits without the help of a male plant. So that female plants can be grown even when their male partner is not present.
Some additional information :
In botany or horticulture, parthenocarpy is the natural or artificial induce production of fruits without fertilization of ovules which makes the fruit seedless.
Parthenocarpy occasionally occurs as a mutation in nature. If parthenocarpy affects every flower the plant can no longer sexually reproduce but might be able to propagate by apomixis or by vegetative means. The ability to produce seedless fruit when pollination is unsuccessful may be an advantage to plants because it provides food for the plant seeds dispersed.
Without a fruit crop and the seed dispersal, the animals may starve or migrate.
In some plants, pollination or another stimulus is required for parthenocarpy termed stimulative parthenocarpy. Plants that do not require pollination or other stimulation to produce parthenocarpic fruits have vegetative parthenocarpy.
Some parthenocarpic varieties have been developed with genetically modified organisms.

Note: Pomegranate will lose its importance if its fruits are produced by parthenocarpy. As in pomegranate, the fleshy part is the outer layer of the seed coat called the testa is eaten.