What is Parthenocarpy?
Parthenocarpy is the process of producing or developing fruits without the process of pollination and fertilization. There are two types of Parthenocarpy – naturally and artificially. The fruits produced by this process are seedless. Banana, Cucumber, Grapes, Lemon Tomato, and Watermelon are a few examples of seedless fruits which have been produced by Parthenocarpy process.
Parthenocarpy is a form of asexual reproduction in flowering plants. The plant growth hormones help the ovaries to mature without fertilization, which grows and produce fruit without the seeds. In botany, the word Parthenocarpy literally refers to a virgin fruit. Parthenocarpy occurs as a mutation in plants and this condition affects the flowers, the reproducing part of plants. During this process, fruits are developed without the union of male and female gametes.
Process of Parthenocarpy
As mentioned earlier, the process of producing or developing fruits without the seed is carried out both by the natural and artificial process. The causes of Parthenocarpy naturally include:
- Dioecious
- Male sterility
- Self-incompatibility
- Adverse environmental condition
- The absence of pollinizer and pollinators
The causes of Parthenocarpy artificially include:
- Irradiated pollen
- By spraying plant growth hormones – Auxin and Gibberellins to enable the growth of the fruits.
More Details About Parthenocarpy
Stay tuned with BYJU’S to know more about the Parthenocarpy, formation of fruits and seeds.
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