Question

Give two functions of a fruit.

Answer 1

Hint:In flowering plants, fruits are the ripened ovaries formed after the fertilisation of the ovule (present in the ovary) by the male gamete (present in the pollen).

Complete answer:
Seeds responsible for the propagation of plants are enclosed in the fruits where they derive nutrition from the pulp of the fruit. The fruits also help in retaining the germination capacity of the seeds.
The fruit structure is categorized into 3 layers:
>Exocarp- it the outermost layer/skin of the fruit.
>Mesocarp- it is the middle fleshy part of the fruit.
>Endocarp- it is the innermost layer of the fruit enclosing the seeds.
All the three layers are collectively referred to as the pericarp.

Fruits can be dehiscent or indehiscent in nature. Dehiscent fruits are those from which the seeds are directly dispersed from the fruit close to the parent plant whereas indehiscent fruits have properties which help in the dispersion of the seeds enclosed within away from the parent plant. This is how fruits aid with the dispersion of seeds.
The two major functions of a fruit are:
>Fruits help to protect the seeds from damage.
>Fruits also help in the dispersion of the seeds.

Additional information: The various uses of fruits are,
>They are rich in vitamins and minerals which are important for a healthy human body.
>Fibre rich fruits like raspberries help in improving digestion.
>Dates are rich in iron and also help in blood sugar regulation.
>Grapes contain resveratrol which has a similar function to that of an aspirin.

Note:There are 5 main types of seed dispersal- wind, water, gravity, animals and ballistic (explosion). These different types of dispersal methods are made possible because of the different shapes that these seeds have.