The gritty nature of the pulp of fruits like pear and sapota is due to the presence of:
A
Macrosclereids
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B
Astrosclereids
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C
Osteosclereids
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D
Brachysclereids
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Solution
The correct option is D Brachysclereids Macrosclereids, astrosclereids, osteosclereids and brachysclereids are types of sclerenchymatous cells.
Brachysclereids resemble parenchyma cells in shape but are made almost entirely of secondary cell walls. These non-living cells are also called stone cells because they form the "grit" in pear fruit.
Macrosclereids are rod-shaped sclereids that are generally found on the outer layer of the seed coat.
Astrosclereids are branched, pointed, irregular (often star-shaped) sclereids. They can be found in specialized tissues like the floating leaves of water lily.
Osteosclereids are also known as bone cells. It is a type of sclereid that forms the hypodermal layer in seeds, fruits and leaves of some plants (dicots).