Question

Define parthenocarpy.what is it's significance?

Answer 1

Answer:

Parthenocarpy is the production of fruits without fertilization of ovule. These fruits will be seedless.

Economic importance :

1) It can be used to produce fruits in plants in which pollination is not easy.  

2) It can be used in dioecious plants for the production of fruits without the help of a male plant. So the female plant can be grown even when its male plant is not present.

Answer 2

The condition in which fruits are developed without the formation of seeds is called parthenocarpy. This process of fruit production was introduced in the year 1902. This is mainly due to the absence of fertilization in plants, pollination and embryo development. In botany, parthenocarpic fruit means “virgin fruit”. These types of fruits are generally seedless.

During cultivation, parthenocarpy is introduced along with other plant hormones including gibberellic acid. It results in the maturation of the ovaries without the process of fertilization and produces bigger and pulpy fruits. This process is applicable to all kinds of crops from varieties of squash to cucumber and a lot more.

Banana is a good example of parthenocarpy. In this natural process, the produced bananas are sterile, developed without viable ovaries and do not produce seeds, which means they must propagate vegetatively. Pineapples and figs are also examples of parthenocarpy which occur naturally.