Question

The edible part of the fleshy fruit is

• A. Parenchymatous seedless pulp
• B. Soft edible seeds
• C. Collenchymatous pulp
• D. Sclerenchymatous endocarp

Answer 1

The correct option is A Parenchymatous seedless pulp

Fleshy fruit has edible pericarp which shows well differentiated layers as epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp.
As given above, fleshy fruit has edible pericarp, not just edible seeds.
Collenchyma cells are elongated cells with irregularly thickened walls. They are involved in providing extra structural support to the growing shoots and leaves. Therefore, fruit pulp cannot be made up of collenchyma cells.
Sclerenchyma cells have thick, lignified secondary walls. These are the principle supporting cells in plant. Sclerechyma cells are of two types as fibres and sclereids. Fleshy fruits which has stony endocarp is made of sclereids but that part is non-edible.
Parenchyma cells have thin primary walls and are alive after attaining maturity. Parenchyma is a versatile tissue forming cortex of stem, root, pulp of fruits, mesophyll of leaves, etc.
Thus, the correct answer is option A.