Fruit and seeds

Fruit are the ripened ovaries of flowering plants (angiosperms) containing seeds. They’re also the vehicle for seed dispersal, with pollination necessary for seed production.

Pome fruits like apples and pears have a core with small seeds, whereas stone fruits (drupes) such as plums and cherries contain a hard shell with a single seed (kernel). Other categories include citrus fruit (e.g. oranges), tropical fruit (e.g. bananas) and berries.

Different types of fruit are pollinated differently. Apples and pears for example are self-incompatible, meaning they require cross-pollination. Conversely, others are produced without ovule fertilisation, rendering them seedless.

Seeds protect the plant embryo and are formed inside the ripened flower ovule. Comprising the testa (outer coat) and tegmen (inner layer), the seed coat provides protection from parasites, water loss and physical damage.

Endosperm is the seed tissue used (in some) to store energy reserves and provide an extra layer of protection to the embryo. The embryo is the developing young plant encased in the seed centre.

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Image: Toronto Botanical Garden