FRUITS AND SEEDS

I. Morphology and Anatomy of Fruits

Fruits Regions
The pericarp of a fruit can be divided into three and those are:

▪ Exocarp- it is the outermost layer which is formed from the outer layer or the epidermis.
▪ Mesocarp- is the second or the middle layer which is often juicy and varies in thickness in different
fruits
▪ Endocarp- it is the innermost layer and also is different in different kinds of fruits

II. Types of fruits

Common classification of fruit types.

1. Simple Fruits- Fruits formed 1 pistil. They may be either true or accessory fruits.
a. Dry Fruits- Fruits in which the boat becomes dry at maturity.
i. Dehiscent Fruits- Dry fruits which at maturity open by definite natural means to shed
the contained seeds.
▪ Legume - A dry dehiscent fruit developed from 1 carpel and at maturity
splitting along both the dorsal and ventral sutures. (ex: beans, peas).
▪ Follicle - A dry dehiscent fruit developed from 1 carpel and at maturity
splitting along only one suture. (ex: larkspur, columbine)
▪ Capsule - A dry dehiscent fruit developed from several carpels.
▪ Silique - A special long slender capsule of 2 carpels. (ex: mustards).

ii. Indehiscent fruits - Dry fruits which do not open when mature to shed their seeds.
Many of this group are one-seeded fruits.
1. Achene - A one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit; the one seed is
attached to the fruit wall at a single point. (ex: buttercups, dandelion,
sunflower).
2. Nut – A dry, indehiscent, one seeded fruit similar to an achene but with
the wall greatly thickened and hardened. (ex: beech, chestnut, oak,
hazel; walnut and hickory - note: because of extrafloral bracts, or "husk",
the latter two fruits are sometimes called "drupes").
3. Samara - A one- or two-seeded dry, indehiscent fruit in which part of
the fruit wall grows out into a wing. (ex: elm, maple, ash).
4. Grain - A one-seeded dry, indehiscent fruit in which the fruit wall and
the seed coat are fused. (ex: wheat, corn, grasses).
5. Schizocarp - A fruit formed from several carpels, each carpel of this pistil
enclosing a single ovule, at maturity the carpels separate as separate
indehiscent fruits. (ex: mallow, wild carrot, dill).
b. Fleshy Fruits- A fruit in which the wall becomes soft and fleshy as it matures.

i. Drupe - A one-seeded simple fruit developed from a superior ovary in which

the innermost portion of the wall (endocarp) becomes hard and stony, the outermost
part (exocarp) becomes a relatively thin skin, and the middle portion between the skin
 and the stone (mesocarp) becomes either fleshy or fibrous. (ex: cherry, coconut, walnut
and hickory - note: because of extrafloral bracts, or "husk", the latter two fruits are
sometimes called "drupes", but best called "nuts").

ii. Berry - A simple fruit in which the ovary wall or at least its inner portions
become enlarged and usually juicy. (ex: grape, banana, gooseberry).

Two special types of berry-like fruits may be singled out for special consideration.

a. Hesperidium - This is a special type of berry in which a leathery rind forms;

the interior of the fruit divided by septa, indicating the number of carpels. (ex:
citrus).
b. Pepo - This is a special type of berry in which a relatively hard rind is formed;
the interior of fruit not divided by septa. (ex: watermelon, gourds, squash).

iii. Pome - An accessory fleshy fruit formed by a group of carpels more or less
firmly united with each other and surrounded by and united to the floral tube or
receptacle. (ex: apple, pear, mountain ash).

2. Aggregate Fruit - A fruit formed by the development of a number of pistils from the same
flower. The individual units may be berries or other specific types. (ex: raspberry, strawberry).

3. Multiple Fruit - A fruit formed by the development of a number of pistils often with accessory parts,
the pistils being from a number of flowers. (ex: mulberry, fig).

III. Seed - A seed is a basic part of any plant.

IV. Types of Seeds and their Structure

It has primarily two types and those are:

▪ Monocotyledonous Seed
▪ Dicotyledonous Seed

4. 1 Structure of a Monocotyledonous Seed

Monocotyledonous seed- has only one cotyledon. It has following parts which are:

▪ Seed Coat: In the seed of cereals such as maize, the seed coat is membranous and generally
fused with the fruit wall, called Hull.
▪ Endosperm: The endosperm is bulky and stores food. Generally, monocotyledonous seeds
are endospermic but some as in orchids are non-endospermic.
▪ Aleurone layer: The outer covering of endosperm separates the embryo by a proteinous
layer called aleurone layer.
▪ Scutellum: This is one large and shield-shaped cotyledon.
▪ Embryo: The embryo is small and situated in a groove at one end of the endosperm.
▪ Embryonal axis: Plumule and radicle are the two ends
▪ Coleoptile and coleorhiza: The plumule and radicle are enclosed in sheaths. They are
coleoptile and coleorhiza.
4. 2 Structure of a Dicotyledonous Seed

Dicotyledonous Seed – has two cotyledons. And these are the following parts:

▪ Seed coat: This is the outermost covering of a seed. The seed coat has two layers,
the outer testa and the inner tegmen.
▪ Hilum: The hilum is a scar on the seed coat through which the developing seed was
attached to the fruit.
▪ Micropyle: It is a small pore present above the hilum.
▪ Embryo: It consists of an embryonal axis and two cotyledons.
▪ Cotyledons: These are often fleshy and full of reserve food materials.
▪ Radicle and plumule: They are present at the two ends of the embryonal axis.
▪ Endosperm: In some seeds such as castor, the endosperm formed as a result of double
fertilization, is a food storing tissue. In plants such as bean, gram and pea, the endosperm is not
present in the matured seed. They are known as non-endospermous

V. Dispersal of Fruits and Seeds

These are the variety of methods that will get seeds from the ovary to a fertile spot to begin germinating
and growing. Not all methods will work for every plant and some plants are very method specific.

▪ Dispersal by wind - The wind can carry light seeds for miles and most seeds and fruits relying on wind
dispersal have specialized adaptations. Willow Family, enable the better transfer of seeds via the wind.
▪ Dispersal by animals - There are so many adaptations for the dispersal of seeds by animals that it
would take a volume or two to discuss them all. Some seeds will not germinate unless they have passed
through the acidic environment of a digestive tract
▪ Dispersal by water - Saltwater dispersed plants generally have these type pericarps and survival
requires washing up on a beach somewhere before the saltwater reaches the inside of the seed.
▪ Other dispersal mechanisms - Some fruits mechanically eject fruits, some at a violent velocity.
Humans are another method of dispersal whether intentionally or not.

Seed Dispersal | Reproduction in Plants:

Seed Dispersal- process by which seeds are dispersed to distant places by agents.

VI. Germination

Germination – it is the start of the growing process for a plant embryo. There are a host of internal and
external factors that have to be in place in order for germination to occur. Most seeds require some
period of dormancy before they will germinate. This can come about by either physiological or
mechanical methods or both. Some seeds can break dormancy by scarification which involves artificially
cracking the seed coat.