Fruit Definition: Meaning, Types and Uses

The term ‘fruit’ majorly refers to a seed-bearing structure that is found in flower-bearing plants. Meaning, it is formed from the ovary present in the seed after flowering in a plant occurs. These plants are termed angiosperms, which disseminate seeds with the help of fruits. This mechanism of producing fruits helps them to reproduce as they disperse seeds through them. There are various ways by which the propagation of seeds takes place. Many edible fruits are propagated with the help of animals as well as humans as they help in seed dispersal which is why fruits are in a symbiotic relationship with organisms as they also provide nutrition to them, which in return get dispersed for new offsprings. Fruits have acquired symbolic and cultural significance and have great agricultural output as well. Let’s learn more about fruits and discuss some important questions.

Key Takeaways: Fruits, uses of fruits, parts of fruits, simple fruits, aggregate fruits, multiple fruits.

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How are Fruits Identified?

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1. The general identification for fruits is the fleshy seed association. They might be sweet or sour and can be consumed in the raw state.
2. Common examples of fruits include apples, grapes, kiwi, oranges, and so on.

100. The concept of fruits can be explained in two aspects:

1. Botanical: The term ‘fruits’ can be used for corn kernels, bean pods, wheat grains, and tomatoes which are the ripened carpel or ovary of the plant. Cereal grains such as wheat, rice, and corn fall under the category of fruits called a caryopsis.
2. Culinary: In these terms, fruits are labeled as the sweet-tasting part of a plant.

500. One must also keep in mind that nuts fall under the category of fruits as well because it is ripened ovule and should not be mistaken as a seed.

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Use of Fruits as a Means of Propagation

Fruits are majorly used by humans for consumption. They share a symbiotic relationship with the species in which they provide nutrition when eaten. In return, the living beings disperse the seeds to different places. Some humans also tend to sow them in the ground so that they can develop into a new plant. They have a lot of agricultural and symbolic significance too. Moreover, some of them provide huge output.

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Parts of Fruits

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1. Pericarp: It is often the edible part of the fruit and formed from the ovary. It is surrounded by seeds. In some species, there are additional issues that are also a part of the consumable section.

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There are several subparts to the pericarp:

1. Epicarp: It is the outermost part of the pericarp.
2. Mesocarp: It is the middle layer of the pericarp.
3. Endocarp: It is the innermost layer of the pericarp.

2. Seeds: They are ripened fertilized ovules. It helps in reproduction as it contains the embryo. This is protected by a hard outer covering.

This also has two subparts:

1. Zygote: It develops into the embryo.
2. Endosperm cell: It gives rise to the endosperm which ultimately provides nourishment to the growing plant.

Also Read: Reproductive Health

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Types of Fruits

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Fruits are divided into three categories depending on the:

1. Number of ovaries
2. Number of flowers involved in fruit formation

1. Simple fruits: They are formed because of the ripening of a simple or compound ovary in a flower having only one pistil. Apple, banana, cherry pear, plum, tomato are a few examples of simple fruits.

They can be classified into some sub-categories:

• Drupes: They contain very hard seeds inside simple fruits. Hence, they are often called stone fruits. Examples of such fruits include cherries and peaches.
• Berries: These are juicy in their taste and have a single seed in the center. They include grapes and blueberries.
• Pomes: They are fruits from blossom trees such as apples and papaya.
• Hesperidium and Pepos: They are slightly like the berries and include fruits such as watermelon, citrus fruits.

2. Aggregate fruits: They develop from many matured ovaries formed in a single flower. This means that each pistil contains one carpel. Each of these individual ovaries is called fruitless. These fruits are collectively called etaerio.

Some common examples include raspberries and strawberries.

2. Composite fruits: These fruits develop from a complete inflorescence. these are also known as multiple fruits. Examples of these fruits include fig, mulberry, and pineapple.

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Development of Fruits

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Fruits are formed from the maturation of one or more flowers. It is the gynoecium of the flower that forms one or more parts of the fruit.

1. The megagametophyte has the eggs cells which in turn possess the ovary or ovaries for the fruit.
2. These ovules get doubly fertilized to turn into seeds and all this starts with the process of pollination. This term talks about the movement of the pollen grains from the stamens (male part of the plant) to the stigma (female part of the plant). These pollen grains further lead to the growth of tubes from through the stigma and reach the ovary right into the ovule. This facilitates the transfer of two sperms into the megagametophyte from the pollen.
3. The zygote is ultimately formed when one sperm encounters the egg. The second sperm forms the endosperm mother cell to complete the double fertilization process.
4. The embryo forms from the zygote and the endosperm gives rise to the endosperm cell for the nutrition of the embryo.
5. As the seeds develop into ovules, the ovary begins to ripen, and the pericarp (ovary wall) may become fleshy (such as in berries or drupes) or a hard outer covering (such as in nuts). The pericarp differentiates into 2 or 4 distinct layers known as the exocarp or epicarp, mesocarp, and endocarp.

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Uses of Fruits

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As mentioned earlier, fruits are an excellent source of nutrition for the human body. They help us by providing vitamins, minerals, and roughage in our diet.

1. Citrus fruits are rich in acids and Vitamin C. This helps in helps in neutralizing skin radicals in the body and facilitates exfoliation as well as skin lightening. Other than consumption, citrus acids also help to get rid of the grease in cooking oil.
2. Fiber-rich fruits help to include roughage in the diet. This eases digestion and reduces acidity levels in the body. A specific example of papaya which contains a protein called papain, that breaks down food in the digestive system and helps in easy digestion.
3. Palm dates have a low glycaemic index and hence, they are very useful in blood sugar regulation. Furthermore, it is high in dietary fiber and is very helpful for digestion.
4. Grapes have a chemical called Resveratrol that functions like aspirin, giving it the properties of an analgesic (painkillers).

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Things To Remember

• Fruit is formed from the ovary present in the seed after flowering in a plant occurs. These plants are termed angiosperms, which disseminate seeds with the help of fruits. 
• This mechanism of producing fruits helps them to reproduce as they disperse seeds through them. 
• Fruits are majorly used by humans for consumption. They share a symbiotic relationship with the species in which they provide nutrition when eaten. In return, the living beings disperse the seeds to different places. 
• The pericarp is often the edible part of the fruit and is formed from the ovary. It is surrounded by seeds.
• Seeds are ripened fertilized ovules. It helps in reproduction as it contains the embryo. This is protected by a hard outer covering.
• The megagametophyte has the eggs cells which in turn possess the ovary or ovaries for the fruit.

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