Morphology of Fruit ( Medicinal plant sector )

1. FRUIT
Dr AKHILRAJ A R
PG Scholar
Dept. of Dravyaguna Vijnana
Amrita School of Ayurveda

2. CONTENTS
 FRUIT
 PARTS OF FRUIT
 CLASSIFICATION - TRUE & FALSE FRUITS
 FUNCTIONS & BIOLOGICAL & ECONOMICAL IMPORTANCE OF FRUITS
 SIMPLE FRUITS
 AGGREGATE FRUITS
 MULTIPLE FRUITS

3. FRUIT
FRUIT is a ripened ovary which is usually formed after fertilization
After the act of fertilization ovary forms fruit & ovules change into seed
Also known as Eucarp
Some fruits are formed without fertilization & do not bear seeds -
Parthenocarpic fruit
Eg : Banana , Seedless varieties of Grapes

4. POMOLOGY
 The branch of horticulture that deals with the study of fruits & their
cultivation

5. SEED & FRUIT DEVELOPMENT
• The process of fertilization initiates both
seed and fruit development
• While seeds are developing in the ovules,
the ovary tissue undergoes a series of
changes resulting in the development of
the fruit

6. PARTS OF FRUIT
• As the ovary develops into a fruit, its wall
thicken and become differentiated into 3 distinct
layers
• These 3 layers, together, are called the pericarp
( Peri - around , Karpos - fruit )
• The pericarp surrounds the developing seed or
seeds

7. PERICARP LAYERS
• The 3 fruit layers are
– Exocarp / Epicarp: outer part, skin
of the fruit
– Mesocarp: middle part
– Endocarp: inner part, encloses the
seed

8. PARTS OF A FRUIT
EXOCARP
Outermost layer
of the fruit wall
MESOCARP
Middle layer
ENDOCARP
Innermost layer

10. DEVELOPMENT OF FRUITS
OVARY WALL PERICARP OF FRUIT
OUTER INTEGUMENT TESTA
INNER INTEGUMENT TEGMEN
ZYGOTE EMBRYO OF SEED
PRIMARY ENDOSPERM NUCLEUS ENDOSPERM
OVULE SEED

11. CLASSIFICATION
 ON THE BASIS OF THE FORMATION OF FRUIT
TRUE FRUITS
FALSE FRUITS / PSEUDOCARPS

12. TRUE FRUITS
• FRUITS which are developed only from the ovary & in which no other
floral parts take part in the development
• In these fruits the ovary wall is changed into fruit wall or pericarp which
surrounds the seeds
Eg : Orange ( Citrus sinensis ) , Almond ( Prunus dulcis )

13. FALSE FRUITS
• FRUITS in which addition to ovary other floral parts also contribute for its
development
Eg : Cashew stalk ( Anacardium occidentale )
Apple ( Malus pumila )

14. FUNCTIONS OF FRUITS
• Protection of seeds in the early stages till they become fully mature
• Dispersal of seeds
• On their decay provide raw material for the benefit of new seedling
• Many fruits are consumed by human being as food and is source of glucose
& pectin

15. BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF FRUITS
• Protects seeds against hostile climatic conditions & animal
• Aids in dispersal of seeds to distant localities through wind, water &
animals

16. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF FRUITS
• Fruits are eaten as food by man & other animals
• Source of sugars, pectin, organic acids, vitamins & minerals
• Food grains of wheat , rice , maize constitute a staple food as cereals
• Many of them constitute green vegetables

17. CLASSIFICATION
Based on Nature of
Pericarp & condition of
Gynoecium

18. SIMPLE FRUIT
 Formed on the basis of one fruit from one flower
Thus simple ovary on ripening forms the single fruit
Eg : Mango
Aegle marmelos
Pomgranate
Cucumber
Aristolochia
Mimosa

19. Mangifera indica
Aegel marmelos
Punica granatum
Cucumber
Aristolochia
Mimosa

20. SIMPLE FRUIT
SIMPLE DRY
SIMPLE FLESHY/
SUCCULENT
Based on Nature of
Pericarp

21. SIMPLE FLESHY/ SUCCULENT FRUITS
 The fruit wall or pericarp is soft & fleshy
 Most of them are edible & serve in the purpose of dispersal of seeds
 These fruits are developed from single or compound pistils
 Generally indehiscent
Eg : Mango( Mangifera Indica ), Banana ( Musa paradisiaca ),
Apple ( Malus pumila ), Cucurbita, Cucumis, Punica granatum,
Orange, Lemon ( Citrus medica )

22. SIMPLE FLESHY/ SUCCULENT FRUITS
 DRUPE
 BERRY
 HESPERIDIUM
 POME
 PEPO
 BALAUSTA
 AMPHISARCA
 NOTE : Hesperidium, Pome, Pepo, Balausta & Amphisarca are also considered as
special types of berries

23. DRUPE
 Developed usually from a superior monocarpellary syncarpous pistil
 The pericarp is distinguishable into 3 regions
 An outer thin Epicarp, A fleshy or fibrous Mesocarp & A stony or thick
Endocarp
 The seeds are often protected by the endocarp are known as Pyrenes
Eg : Mangifera, Plum, Coffee (2 pyrenes), Borassus (3 pyrenes)

24. Drupe: Fruit usually with a fleshy Mesocarp
and a single seed enclosed in a hard stony
Endocarp or pit ( Eg: Peach, Plum, Mango )
DRUPE

25. DRUPE
EXOCARP
Outermost layer
of the fruit wall
MESOCARP
Middle layer
ENDOCARP
Innermost layer

26. BERRY
 Developed from a superior or inferior syncarpous pistil
 Epicarp - Thin, Mesocarp & Endocarp - Fleshy & fuses together
 The only hard structure in the Berry is Seed
 Usually the pericarp, septa & placenta develop into a succulent mass
 Seeds are kept embedded in the fleshy mass
Eg : Tomato, Guava

27. Tomato (A True Berry): Pericarp (Exocarp, Mesocarp, Endocarp), Seed, Locule, Placenta

28. PEPO
 Developed from a tricarpellary syncarpous unilocular Inferior ovary(
Cucurbita) with parietal placentation
 The outer Pericarp forms a tough lathery rind. Inner part with placenta
becomes fleshy & edible
( Eg : Cucurbitaceae family )

29. PEPO
( Eg : Cucurbitaceae family )

30. HESPERIDIUM
 Developed from a Multicarpellary Syncarpous Multilocular superior
ovary with ovules axile placentation
 The outer epicarp becomes thick & leathery followed by white thin
mesocarp & inner thin endocarp which is folded inside along the septa &
divided it into separate chambers
 On the inner surface of endocarp unicellular juicy glands develops
( Eg : Citrus )

31. HESPERIDIUM
Hesperidium: A berry with
leathery outer skin containing
oils; carpels evident in cross
section (Rutaceae e.g. Lime)

32. POME
 Fleshy fruit develops from inferior ovary
 Thalamus became fleshy & edible enclosing the true fruit inside
Eg : Apple ( Malus pumila )

33. POME
Note the persistent calyx at the distal
end
Fleshy
Thalamus

34. BALAUSTA
• Fruits develops from multilocular syncarpous inferior ovary
• Many-celled & Many-seeded fruit
• Testa is fleshy & fruit has persistent calyx
Eg : Punica granatum
• In pomegranate the pericarp of the fruit is tough & leathery & the chambers are
made of thin walls of carpels.The edible portion is the succulent testa

35. BALAUSTA

36. AMPHISARCA
• Develops from multicarpellary, syncarpous, multichambered superior
ovary
• Many-chambered & Many-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp
• The Placenta & possibly, the inner layers of the pericarp become pulpy &
edible
• The Testa is mucilaginous
Eg : Aegle marmelos
Limonia acidissima of Rutaceae

37. AMPHISARCA

38. TYPES OF SIMPLE FLESHY
FRUIT
EXAMPLES
DRUPE ( Endocarp hard & stony ) Mango, Plum
BERRY ( Endocarp is pulpy ) Tomato, Guava, Banana
HESPERIDIUM Orange, Lemon
POME Apple
PEPO Cucurbita, Cucumis
BALAUSTA Pome granate ( Punica granatum )
AMPHISARCA Aegle marmelos ( Wood Apple )
Feronia elephantum ( Elephant Apple )

39. SIMPLE DRY FRUIT
 Have dry pericarp
 They may be either Dehiscent or Indehiscent
Simple dry dehiscent fruit
Simple dry indehiscent fruit

40. SIMPLE DRY DEHISCENT FRUIT
• In dry dehiscent fruit the pericarp split opens out in a regular way in order
to liberate the seeds
 Legume
Follicle
Lomentum
Siliqua
Capsule
Schizocarp

41. LEGUME
• Legume is developed from a superior monocarpellary ovary
• The leathery or dry Pericarp splits open along the ventral & dorsal sutures when
ripe
Eg : Phaseolus, Abrus, Pea, Bean
Lomentum : Legume which break off transversely into several bit, each with a
seed in it
Eg : Mimosa pudica

42. Legume (pea) parts: pericarp, seed, locule (air space round seed), placenta

43. SOYABEANLEGUME

44. Abrus precatorius
Clitoria ternatea

45. LOMENTUM

46. FOLLICLE
 Follicle is a dry dehiscent fruit developing from Superior, Monocarpellary one
chambered ovary but dehisces by one suture only
 Single follicle is rare
 Follicle usually develop in an aggregate of two, Three or many fruits
 Calotropis of Asclepiadaceae shows a paired follicle, which is actually an aggregate
fruit from a bicarpellary ovary
Eg : Michelia,Vinca

47. Calotropis procrea
Michelia champaka
Vinca

48. SILIQUA
 Dry, dehiscent fruit developing from a bicarpellary falsely two
chambered, superior pistil & dehiscing from below upwards by both
the margins while the seeds remain attached to the false septum
Eg : Mustard, Radish

49. Brassica juncea

50. CAPSULE
 Develop from polycarpellary syncarpous multilocular ovary with ovules on axile
placentation
 When the fruit matures the pericarp dehisces into as many valves as the no of carpels
united to expose the seed
Eg : Lady’s finger(5), Ela(3), Datura(4), Jyothishmati(3)

51. Lady’s Finger
Elettaria cardamom
DATURA
Celastrus paniculatus

52. SCHIZOCARP
 Develops from polycarpellary Syncarpous ovary with ovules on axile placentation
 When the fruit dehiscence along the septa into many valves with a row of seed
enclosed inside
Eg : Abutilon, Coriandrum sativum, Ricinus, Leucas

53. Ricinus communis
Abutilon grandifolium
Leucas cephalotus

54. SIMPLE DRY INDEHISCENT FRUIT
• These fruits do not break open when they are ripe
• They are mostly one seeded & are believed to be the most highly
evolved forms
Caryopsis
Achene
Cypsela
Nut
Samara

55. CARYOPSIS
• Small, dry, one-seeded fruit developing from a superior,
monocarpellary ovary with the pericarp fused with testa ( Seed-coat )
• Examples are found in Gramineae
Eg : Rice, Wheat, Maize, Grass

57. ACHENE
 Developed from a Monocarpellary Superior one chambered ovary
 The Fruit is dry one seeded where pericarp ( Fruit wall ) & Testa (Seed coat )
are free from each other
Eg : Ficus, Clematis, Mirabilis jalapa, Boerhaavia

58. Mirabilis Jalpa
Boerhavia erecta
Ficus

59. CYPSELA
 Dry, one-chambered, one-seeded fruit developing from a bicarpellary
syncarpous inferior ovary with the pericarp & the testa free
Eg : Tridax,Vernonia, Marigold, Sun flower

60. Vernonia
Sun flower
Pappus

61. NUT
• Dry, one-chambered & one seeded fruit developing from a superior, bi or
polycarpellary ovary, where the pericarp is either hard woody or leathery
at maturity
Eg : Cashew Nut ( Anacardium occidentale ),Water chestnut,
Oak ( Quercus ), Beech ( Fagus )

62. Cashew Nut
Nut
Peduncle

63. SAMARA
 Dry, indehiscent, one or two seeded fruit developing from a superior, bi- or
tri-carpellary ovary, with one or more flattened, wing-like outgrowths
 In Samara, the wings always develop from the pericarp & the fruit splits
into its component parts, each enclosing a seed
Eg : Pterocarpus, Ailanthus, Arjuna

64. Pterocarpus indicus ( Bijaka)
SAMARA
Ailanthus altissima ( Aralu )

65. SAMARA
Terminalia arjuna
(5 hard Wings)

66. SAMARA

67. AGGREGATE FRUIT
They are also produced from a single flower , but gynoecium is bi, tri, or
polycarpellary and apocarpous
The whole fruit is a collection of such fruitlets correspond to the number
of carpels in a flower
Eg : Michelia champaka, Rose, Polyalthia, Butter cup,
Custard apple ( Anonna )

68.  A cluster of fruitlets is called etaerio of fruitlets
( Eg : if fruitlet is follicle, the aggregate fruit will be etaerio of follicles)
4 TYPES
 ETAERIO OF FOLLICLES Eg : Michelia champaka, Calotropis
ETAERIO OF ACHENES Eg : Rose, Ranunculus scleratus
ETAERIO OF DRUPES Eg : Rubus idaeus
 ETAERIO OF BERRIES Eg : Custard-apple( Anonna ), Polyalthia

69. ETAERIO OF FOLLICLES
Michelia champaka
Calotropis
ETAERIO OF ACHENES
Rosa indica ( Taruni )

70. ETAERIO OF DRUPES
Rubus idaeus
ETAERIO OF BERRIES
Annona squamosa
(Sithaphala)

71. ETAERIO OF BERRIES
Polyalthia longifolia ( Kashtadharu )

72. COMPOUND FRUIT / MULTIPLE FRUIT
Fruit which is developed from an inflorescence
Here the ovaries of the flowers in the whole inflorescence are united
together to form a compound fruit known as multiple fruit
So it is also called composite fruit
Eg :
Pine apple, Jack fruit, Ficus, Mulberry

73. TYPES OF COMPOSITE FRUITS
SOROSIS
SYCONUS

74. SOROSIS
 Multiple fruit developing from a spike or spadix
 The flowers fuse together by their succulent sepals & at the same time, the
axis bearing them grows & becomes fleshy & woody
 As a result, the whole inflorescence forms into a compact mass
Eg : Jackfruit, Pineapple, Mulberry

75. Artocarpus integrifolia
( Panasa )
SOROSIS

76. Rind

77. SOROSIS
MULBERRY

78. SYCONUS
 Multiple fruit which is developed from a hypanthodium or coenanthium
inflorescence
 The Peduncle is modified into hollow cup called receptacle
 The male & female flowers are seen inside the receptacle
 The hollow receptacle becomes fleshy & edible
Eg : Ficus

79. SYCONUS
Ficus bengalensis
( Vata )

80. COMMON FRUITS & THEIR EDIBLE PARTS
Sl.No Name of Fruit Type of Fruit Edible Part
1 Apple Pome Fleshy Thalamus
2 Banana Berry Mesocarp & Placenta
3 Cashew nut Nut Pedicel & Cotyledons
4 Coconut Drupe Endosperm
5 Custard apple Etaerio of berries Pericarp
6 Date palm Berry Pericarp
7 Jack- Fruit Sorosis Bracts, Perianth & Seeds
8 Fig Syconus Fleshy receptacle
9 Guava Berry Pericarp
10 Mango Drupe Mesocarp
11 Wheat Caryopsis Starchy endosperm
12 Orange Hesperidium Juicy hair
13 Tomato Berry Pericarp & Placenta
14 Pear Pome Fleshy thalamus
15 Pine-Apple Sorosis Outer portion of Receptacle
16 Litchi Simple fleshy Juicy aril

81. 81