The Fruit- Definition, Structure, Types and Uses

Fruit is the edible and nutritious component of the plant that also bears seeds. Even though we don’t eat all fruits, they’re nonetheless important for seed distribution, therapeutic capabilities, and so on. ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away,’ you may have heard. That, however, does not apply solely to apples. All fruits include one or more nutrients that are beneficial to our bodies, such as vitamins, minerals, and fibre.

Fruits are produced by plants as a result of sexual reproduction. Flowering plants have fruits as a distinguishing trait. In this post, we’ll study what fruits are, how they’re made in a plant, how they’re structured, and how they’re used.

What is Called Fruit?

Fruits are the ripened ovary of the flower that usually bear seeds of the plant. In some cases, fruits also develop from other parts of the flower. As we already know, the ovary is the female reproductive part that bears ovules that develop into seeds post fertilisation process. When due to some reason, fertilization fails, the ovary simply withers and falls off. But in certain plants, fruits may be formed without the act of fertilization and such fruits are called parthenocarpic fruits.

Parts of Fruits

There are two main parts of the fruit.

1. Pericarp: It is also called the wall of fruit and develops from the ovary wall. It may be thick or thin and generally differentiated into three layers that are:
   a. Epicarp: It is the outer layer and also known as exocarp, and is a tough outer skin of the fruit.
   b. Mesocarp: It is the middle layer and is the fleshy part of the fruit.
   c. Endocarp: It is the innermost layer that surrounds the seeds.
2. Seed: It is derived from the ovule of the flower. It is found at the centre of the fruit which is surrounded by a covering of endocarp.

Fig: Structure of the Fruit

Classification of Fruits

Fruits are classified according to different aspects:

1. Classification Based on Organ of Development:
   There two different types of fruits depending on the organ of development:
   a. True Fruits: Fruits that are formed exclusively from the ovary are called true fruits. Guava, mango, grapes are some examples of true fruits.
   b. False Fruits: When other floral parts apart of the ovary such as tepals, bracts or thalamus also get involved in the development of fruits, such fruits are called false fruits or pseudocarps.
2. Classification Based on Development:
   It is the flower that develops into a fruit after maturation. At the end of sexual reproduction in plants, the ovary and its components develop into a fruit. Pericarp becomes fleshy in most of the plant. There are 3 modes of fruit development:
   a. Apocarpous: It is formed from a single flower with one or more carpels, known to be the most uncomplicated fruits.
   b. Syncarpous: It is formed from a single gynoecium with two or more carpels. Here, carpels are fused with each other.
   c. Multiple: They are formed by clusters of flowers also called an inflorescence.
3. Classification Based on the Number of Ovaries and Flowers Involved:
   True fruits are classified into three main types depending on the number of ovaries and flowers involved in the fruit formation:
   1. Simple fruits
   2. Aggregate fruits
   3. Composite or multiple fruits
   Let us know these types of fruits in more detail.

Simple Fruits
Simple fruits are those which are derived from a single carpel or more than one fused carpel of a flower where accessory parts may be or not be present. These are developed from a single ovary of the flower. They may be dry or fleshy and dehiscent or indehiscent.

1. Dry Fruits: In this type of fruit, the pericarp remains dry. Dry fruits are further divided into the following three categories:
a. Dehiscent (Capsular) Fruits: The pericarp of dehiscent fruits split open, and the seeds are visible. These are usually multi seeded fruits and are of the following types:

b. Indehiscent (Achenial) Fruits: In these fruits, development takes place by a single ovary and the seeds remain inside after ripening. Unlike dehiscent, these are single-seeded fruits. The indehiscent fruits are of the following types:

c. Schizocarpic Fruits: This type of fruits break into single-seeded indehiscent parts when fully matured. They are multiple seeded fruits that form a single ovary. Schizocarpic fruits are of the following types:

2. Fleshy (Succulent) Fruits: These fruits have fleshy or juicy pericarp, which is divided into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp. Succulent fruits are of the following types:

Aggregate Fruits
Aggregate fruits develop from several ovaries of carpels in the same flower. Individual carpel or pistil develops into fruitlets, but these mature in a cluster on a single receptacle. An individual ovary develops into a drupe, achene, follicle, or berry. An aggregate of these fruits borne by a single flower is known as an etaerio. The aggregate fruits are of the following types:

Composite or Multiple Fruits

A multiple or composite fruit develops from an inflorescence where flowers are crowded together and often fused with one and other. These are of two types:

1. Sorosis: Fleshy multiple fruits that develop from a spike or spadix. The flowers fuse by their succulent sepals and at the same time the axis bearing them becomes fleshy or woody, the whole inflorescence forms a compact mass, e.g., pineapple, jack fruit, etc.
2. Syconus: Multiple fruits which develop from hypanthodium inflorescence. It has a hollow or cup-shaped fleshy receptacle, e.g., fig.

Uses of Fruits

Fruits are the juicy, aromatic, parts of the plant that are used for numerous purposes. Some of the important uses of fruits are:
1. A wide range of animals including humans depend on fruits for food.
2. Fruits contain vitamins, minerals and proteins that help us keep healthy and fight certain deficiency diseases.
3. Many fruits are rich in fibres that aid in a better digestive system in our body.
4. Fruits contain organic acids.
5. Fruits are used as a natural sweetener and even colouring agent in cooking.
6. We get edible oil from some fruits like coconut, castor, groundnut, etc.
7. Fruits of some plants have medicinal properties and are used to make ayurvedic medicines.
8. Many beauty products, beverages and food items are made using fruits commercially.

Summary

Fruits are edible parts of plants with great importance. The main function of fruits is the dispersal of seeds. A wide range of animals eat fleshy parts of the fruits leaving the seeds, thus helping in the dispersal of seeds to various locations. The structure of fruits helps them to ensure better dispersal, for example, in the case of samara fruits, it has one or more wings thus carried away by the wind.

Some fruits are developed without fertilization of the ovule; such a process of fruit development is called parthenocarpy. Seeds of these fruits are not viable; this phenomenon is used widely in the current era for improving quality and getting seedless varieties of fruits.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have provided some frequently asked questions about fruit here:

Q.1. What is the fruit of the plant?
Ans: Fruits are the ripened ovary of the flowering plant that usually bears seeds of the plant. In some cases, fruits also develop from other parts of the flower. These are nutritious, fibre-rich, colourful parts of the plant that are eaten by many animals including us.

Q.2. Which fruit is the juiciest?
Ans: It is the pericarp of the fruit that becomes juicy. Some fruits are sweet, and some are sour. Watermelon is one example of fruit that can be considered as juiciest of other fruits. Kiwi, Dragonfruit, mango, apple are few other examples.

Q.3. What are the four types of fruit?
Ans: The four types of fruits are:
a. Simple Dry fruit
b. Succulent fruits
c. Aggregate fruits
d. Composite or Multiple fruits

Q.4. What is Epicarp, Mesocarp and Endocarp?
Ans: There are two main parts of the fruit: pericarp and seed. The pericarp is generally differentiated into three layers that are:
Epicarp: It is the outer layer and also known as exocarp, and is a tough outer skin of the fruit.
Mesocarp: It is the middle layer and is the fleshy part of the fruit.
Endocarp: It is the innermost layer and these surround the seeds.

Q.5. What are the three structures of the fruit?
Ans: Seed and pericarp are the two main structures of fruits. The pericarp is further divided into epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp.

We hope this detailed article on the Fruit helps you in your preparation. If you get stuck do let us know in the comments section below and we will get back to you at the earliest.