Question

The hardest part of drupe is
A. Mesocarp
B. Endocarp
C. Pericarp
D. Epicarp

Answer 1

Hint: The fruit is one of the most important parts of the plant. It is the mature form of the ovary that presents in a flower. A flower converts into fruit after its successful fertilization. Drupes are types of fruit. A fruit consists of two parts which is the pericarp and the seeds.

Complete answer:
When the fertilization of a flower takes place by the pollen grain, the ovule which remains stored within the ovary, it grows into the seeds and the ovary converts into the fruit. So, fruit is a matured ovary of the flower, that protects the internal seeds.
Generally, there are two parts present in the simple fruit are the pericarp and the seed or seeds. The pericarp is a converted form of the outer wall of the ovary. It is further classified into three parts; exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp. The exocarp is the outermost layer of the pericarp. It forms the skin of the fruit. After that, there is a mesocarp layer present which is the middle layer of the pericarp. And the innermost layer of the pericarp is the endocarp. It is generally transformed into the pith.
Drupes are simple fleshy fruit that generally holds a single seed. The cherry, peach, and olive are examples of such fruits. A drupe is a simple fruit which is derived from a single ovary of an individual flower. The pericarp of the drupes is also composed of three layers. The outermost layer of the ovary wall or exocarp is a thin skin or peel. The mesocarp or the middle layer is thick and it is the fleshy part of the drupes. But in the almond or fibrous like the coconut the mesocarp is tough. The innermost layer or endocarp is hard, rigid, and stony. This is the hardest part of drupes. It is also known as the pit or putamen. The mango, walnut, and dogwood are the more examples of drupes fruit.

Therefore, the correct option for the question is option B.

Note: The fruit is the mature form of the ovary of the flower and the seeds present in the fruit are the mature ovule found within the ovary. The pericarp and the seeds are the two parts of a fruit. Pericarp has three layers which are exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp. Drupes are the simple fruit in which the exocarp is thin or peel, the mesocarp is the fleshy part of the fruit and the endocarp is the hardest part. This is a rigid stony portion of the drupes.