Question

Edible part of a tomato is

• A. Epicarp
• B. Mesocarp
• C. Thalamus
• D. Pericarp and placenta

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (D)

Pericarp and placenta

The correct options are A, B, and D.

Explanation for correct option:

1. Tomato is a fleshy fruit that develops from the ovary of the flower.
2. The pericarp is the fruit wall which is divided into three parts: the exocarp or epicarp is the skin of the fruit, the mesocarp is the middle layer which is fleshy and the endocarp is fused to the mesocarp.
3. The seeds are arranged in the placental tissue in multiple locules that are divided by septa.
4. Hence, the epicarp, mesocarp which are part of the pericarp, and the placenta are edible parts of the tomato.

Explanation for incorrect option:

Option C:

Thalamus is a part of the flower. Tomato is a true fruit that develops only from the ovary without the involvement of floral parts.

Final answer: Edible part of a tomato is epicarp, mesocarp, pericarp, and placenta.