About Lesson
Fruit development
- Fertilization normally precedes fruit formation
- However, under certain conditions, the unfertilized egg develops into a fruit, the result being a seedless fruit, this is called parthenocarpy
- Seedlessness is desired in certain fruits, horticulturists some times deliberately apply certain growth regulators to plants to induce parthenocarpic fruits
- Seeds appear to play a significant role in the growth and development of certain fruits
- If embryo dies or pollination is not complete, some eggs will not be fertilize, fruits form as a result of this event are malformed, as seen in cucumber and apple
- In case of stone fruits (cherry, peach and apricot), the death of an embryo results in fruit drop
- Fruit set is adversly affected by improper temperature (high or low), low light intensity and adequate moisture and nutrition
- As fruits develop, they enlarge and become filled with soluble solids