Functions of Fruits in Plants

Introduction

Fruits are mature ovaries of flowering plants. They enclose the seeds and aid in their dispersal. Fruits play a crucial role in plant reproduction and survival.

Types of Fruits

Fleshy Fruits

Fleshy fruits have a soft, juicy mesocarp (flesh). They are further classified as:

• Berries: Simple fruits developed from a single ovary with multiple seeds.
• Drupes: Simple fruits with a hard endocarp (pit) enclosing a single seed.
• Pomes: Fleshy fruits with a papery core composed of the fused ovaries and receptacle.
• Hespeidia: Berry-like fruits with a thick rind derived from the ovary wall.

Dry Fruits

Dry fruits have a hardened pericarp (fruit wall) and are classified as:

• Capsules: Dry, dehiscent fruits that split open along specific lines to release seeds.
• Legumes: Dry, dehiscent fruits that split open into two valves along a single suture.
• Nuts: Single-seeded, indehiscent fruits with a hard, woody pericarp.
• Achenes: Small, dry fruits with a thin pericarp that does not adhere to the seed.

Functions of Fruits

### Seed Dispersal

Fruits facilitate seed dispersal by attracting animals and birds. Fleshy fruits with sweet pulp and colorful skin are consumed by animals, who then disperse the seeds through their droppings.

### Protection of Seeds

Fruits provide protection to developing seeds from environmental factors such as desiccation, predation, and mechanical damage. The hard pericarp of dry fruits offers additional protection.

### Nutrient Storage

Fleshy fruits are rich in nutrients, including sugars, vitamins, and minerals. They provide energy and nutrients to the developing seeds and attract animals for seed dispersal.

### Plant Propagation

Fruits can serve as a means of vegetative propagation. Asexual fruits, such as strawberries and pineapples, can produce new plants from specialized structures.

### Conclusion

Fruits play multifaceted roles in plant reproduction and survival. They facilitate seed dispersal, protect seeds, provide nutrients, and contribute to plant propagation. Their diversity and adaptation reflect the remarkable evolutionary strategies of flowering plants.

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