Parthenocarpy is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without the fertilization of ovules, resulting in seedless fruit. This phenomenon has been observed since ancient times and is of significant interest in botany and horticulture. Here are some key points about parthenocarpy:
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Definition: Parthenocarpy refers to the development of fruit without fertilization, resulting in a sterile fruit that lacks seeds.
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Types: There are two main types of parthenocarpy: stimulative parthenocarpy, which requires pollination or another stimulation, and vegetative parthenocarpy, which does not require pollination or other stimulation to produce seedless fruit.
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Examples: Fruits like banana, cucumber, grapes, oranges, pineapple, and others are developed through parthenocarpy.
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Artificial Induction: Parthenocarpy can be induced artificially by the use of plant growth regulators, such as gibberellins, auxin, and cytokinin, which stimulate the development of seedless fruit.
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Importance: Parthenocarpy is of commercial importance as it allows for the production of seedless fruits, which can be beneficial in various ways, such as protecting plants from pests and pesticides and rationalizing and improving fruit quality and production in plant species grown for their fruits.
Parthenocarpy is a fascinating phenomenon that has practical implications in agriculture and horticulture, offering the possibility of improving fruit quality and productivity in many crop plants grown for their fruits.
