Fruit Formation
1. Pollination:
- Pollen grains from the anthers (male reproductive organs) are transferred to the stigma (female reproductive organ) of a compatible flower.
2. Fertilization:
- A pollen tube grows from the stigma, delivering sperm cells to the ovules (female gametes) in the ovary.
- Fertilization occurs when a sperm cell fuses with an egg cell within an ovule.
3. Ovule Development:
- The fertilized ovules develop into seeds, consisting of an embryo (future plant), endosperm (food reserve), and seed coat.
4. Ovary Transformation:
- The ovary, which originally housed the ovules, transforms into a fleshy or dry fruit.
5. Fruit Development:
- The ovary walls thicken and develop into the fruit wall or pericarp, consisting of three layers: exocarp (outer skin), mesocarp (flesh), and endocarp (inner lining).
- The developing fruit absorbs nutrients and water from the plant, increasing in size and weight.
6. Seed Maturation:
- Within the fruit, the seeds continue to mature, developing a hard seed coat and accumulating stored nutrients.
7. Ripening:
- As the fruit matures, it undergoes ripening, which involves changes in color, texture, flavor, and aroma.
- These changes are triggered by ethylene and other plant hormones.
8. Fruit Dispersal:
- Once ripe, fruits play a crucial role in plant reproduction by dispersing seeds.
- Dispersal mechanisms vary, including wind, animals, water, and gravity.
Types of Fruit Structures:
- Simple Fruits: Develop from a single ovary of a single flower, e.g., apple, banana, cherry.
- Aggregate Fruits: Develop from multiple ovaries of a single flower, e.g., strawberry, raspberry, blackberry.
- Multiple Fruits: Develop from multiple flowers that fuse together, e.g., pineapple, fig, mulberry.