Question

Which of the following is correctly matched?
A. False fruit-mango
B. Multiple fruit-apple
C. Aggregate fruit-Polyalthia
D. Caryopsis-banana

Answer 1

Hint: False fruits are formed when they develop from any other part of the flower except the ovary such as thalamus, peduncle etc. A multiple fruit is formed from the gynoecium of more than one flower and represents a whole inflorescence. Multiple ripened ovaries of a single flower; borne on a common receptacle, results in the formation of an aggregate fruit. In caryopsis, the ovary wall and the seed coat are united together as seen in grasses and cereals.

Complete explanation:
Option A (False fruit-mango): Mango is a drupe. It’s a true fruit that develops from the ovary of the flower and not any other part. However, false fruits develop from any other parts of flower like cashews which develop from the peduncles and not the ovary.
So, option A is not correct.
Option B (Multiple fruit-apple): An apple is a pome fruit arising from accessory floral parts (false fruit). Since it doesn’t arise from several ovaries of several or numerous flowers, it’s not said to be a multiple fruit.
So, option B is not correct.
Option C (Aggregate fruit-Polyalthia): An aggregate fruit develops from a single flower but with multiple matured ovaries arranged over the surface and borne by a single receptacle. This single flower could be multicarpellary and apocarpous. Each of the superior ovaries develops into simple fruitlets. Thus, it has a collection of simple fruits as in Polyalthia where the carpels of the flower unite and give rise to a single fruit.
So, option C is correct.
Option D (Caryopsis-banana): In indehiscent fruits, those which do not split open at maturity, one-seeded fruits in which the seeds are firmly attached to the fruits at all possible points are called caryopsis (or grain). Botanically, bananas are considered berries which develop from one single ovary and generally have a soft exocarp, fleshy mesocarp and a soft endocarp bearing one or more seeds. Often parthenocarpy is done to grow bananas and thus, making them seedless.
So, option D is not correct.

Therefore, Option C is the correct answer.

Note:
The Polyalthia genus belongs to the Annonaceae family. The flowers are bisexual and hypogynous. The perianth is triseriate. The stamens are numerous and anthers are longitudinally dehiscent. The gynoecium consists of numerous carpels. Superior ovaries are present. These can be either apocarpous (with usually spiral carpels) or rarely syncarpous (with whorled carpels). Placentation is usually variable. Ovules may be anatropous or campylotropous. The fruit can either be an aggregate of berries or dry and indehiscent units. It may also be a syncarp in which each berry fuses together to a fleshy receptacle. The seeds are endospermous.