Part 7 — Seed development, fruit types, special modes (apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony) (25 MCQs)

Q121. Pericarp of fruit develops from:

a) Ovary wall after fertilization
b) Ovule integuments
c) Style only
d) Petals

Answer: a) Ovary wall after fertilization

(a) Correct. Pericarp = exocarp + mesocarp + endocarp from ovary wall.

Q122. Fruit developing without fertilization that is seedless is called:

a) Parthenocarpy (seedless fruit formation)
b) Apomixis
c) Polyembryony
d) Vivipary

Answer: a) Parthenocarpy (seedless fruit formation)

(a) Correct. Parthenocarpy = development of fruit without fertilization → seedless fruits (e.g., seedless grapes, banana).
(b) Apomixis = asexual seed formation (embryo without fertilization) — leads to seeds.

Q123. Apomixis is:

a) Sexual reproduction only
b) Asexual formation of seeds without fertilization (embryo formed from integument or ovule tissues or embryo sac without syngamy)
c) Seed dispersal mechanism
d) Pollen tube growth phenomenon

Answer: b) Asexual formation of seeds without fertilization

(b) Correct. Apomixis produces clonal seeds (e.g., some grasses, dandelions).

Q124. Polyembryony results in:

a) Single embryo per seed only
b) Multiple embryos per seed (can be sexual and/or adventive embryony) — e.g., citrus seeds may produce multiple seedlings per seed
c) Always sterile seeds
d) Only occurs after parthenocarpy

Answer: b) Multiple embryos per seed

(b) Correct. Several embryos may be formed due to cleavage, multiple fertilizations, or somatic embryos.

Q125. A simple fruit developed from a single ovary is:

a) Aggregate fruit (e.g., strawberry)
b) Multiple fruit (e.g., pineapple)
c) Berry or drupe (e.g., mango, tomato) — simple fruit types
d) Accessory fruit only

Answer: c) Berry or drupe (e.g., mango, tomato) — simple fruit types

(c) Correct. Simple fruits come from single ovary; berries/drupes are examples.
(a) Aggregate = many ovaries from same flower; (b) Multiple = from many flowers.

Q126. Aggregate fruit results from:

a) Single ovary
b) Many fused ovaries of a single flower (e.g., raspberry)
c) Multiple flowers fused (e.g., pineapple)
d) Seed coat swelling

Answer: b) Many fused ovaries of a single flower (e.g., raspberry)

(b) Correct. Aggregate fruit is formed from several ovaries of one flower.

Q127. Multiple fruit (e.g., pineapple) develops from:

a) Single ovary of single flower
b) Many flowers of an inflorescence whose ovaries fuse to form a single mass
c) Many seeds in one fruit
d) One flower with many carpels

Answer: b) Many flowers of an inflorescence whose ovaries fuse to form a single mass

(b) Correct. Multiple fruit = fusion of ovaries of many flowers.

Q128. Accessory fruit (e.g., apple) is characterised by:

a) Fruit develops solely from ovary tissues
b) Other flower parts (receptacle/pedicel) contribute to fruit flesh along with ovary, making it accessory
c) No ovary involvement
d) Always dry fruit

Answer: b) Other flower parts (receptacle/pedicel) contribute to fruit flesh along with ovary

(b) Correct. Apple’s fleshy part largely derived from receptacle (accessory tissue).

Q129. In which fruit type is the entire pericarp fleshy except for pit enclosing seed?

a) Berry
b) Drupe
c) Legume
d) Capsule

Answer: b) Drupe

(b) Correct. Drupe (mango, peach) has exocarp, fleshy mesocarp, hard endocarp forming stone/pit.
Berry: entire pericarp fleshy with many seeds (e.g., tomato).

Q130. Tomato and grape are examples of:

a) Drupes
b) Berries (true berries)
c) Legumes
d) Dehiscent fruits only

Answer: b) Berries (true berries)

(b) Correct. Berries have fleshy pericarp throughout, multiple seeds in some cases.

Q131. Seedless fruits produced via parthenocarpy have no seeds because:

a) Ovules always aborted after fertilization
b) Fruit develops without fertilization; no zygote or endosperm forms
c) Pollination is mandatory for seed set always
d) Multiple fertilizations occur

Answer: b) Fruit develops without fertilization; no zygote or endosperm forms

(b) Correct. Parthenocarpy yields seedless fruit; sometimes hormone treatments induce it.

Q132. Apomictic seed formation differs from parthenocarpy in that apomixis produces:

a) Seedless fruits only
b) Seeds produced without fertilization (often genetically identical to parent)
c) Multiple embryos only
d) Only vial reproduction

Answer: b) Seeds produced without fertilization (often genetically identical to parent)

(b) Correct. Apomixis yields seeds clonally, parthenocarpy yields fruits without seeds.

Q133. Seed coat (testa) typically arises from:

a) Nucellus tissue
b) Integuments of ovule after fertilization
c) Endosperm tissue
d) Funiculus only

Answer: b) Integuments of ovule after fertilization

(b) Correct. Integuments differentiate into testa and tegmen.

Q134. In which case polyembryony is agriculturally useful?

a) When multiple seedlings per seed are undesirable
b) In horticulture clonal propagation (e.g., citrus) where nucellar embryos produce clonal plants
c) Always causes seedless fruits
d) Always detrimental to agriculture

Answer: b) In horticulture clonal propagation (e.g., citrus) where nucellar embryos produce clonal plants

(b) Correct. Polyembryony produces genetically identical seedlings—useful for uniform clones.

Q135. Seed dormancy can be broken by:

a) Scarification, stratification, hormonal treatments, change in temperature or light conditions
b) Only by fertilization
c) Always via parthenocarpy
d) By pollination only

Answer: a) Scarification, stratification, hormonal treatments, change in temperature or light conditions

(a) Correct. Dormancy broken by physical or physiological cues.

Q136. Parthenocarpy can be induced artificially by:

a) Application of growth hormones (auxins/gibberellins)
b) Burning seeds
c) Removing ovary
d) Pollination with incompatible pollen

Answer: a) Application of growth hormones (auxins/gibberellins)

(a) Correct. Hormonal treatments encourage fruit set without fertilization.

Q137. Vivipary in plants refers to:

a) Seed germination inside fruit while still attached to parent (e.g., some mangroves)
b) Seed drying before germination
c) A seedless fruit phenomenon
d) Multiple embryo formation

Answer: a) Seed germination inside fruit while still attached to parent (e.g., some mangroves)

(a) Correct. Vivipary = precocious germination, often seen in some mangroves.

Q138. Adventive embryony (apospory) results in:

a) Embryos from nucellar or integumentary tissues without fertilization
b) Only sexual embryos from zygote
c) Seedless fruit formation
d) Loss of endosperm formation

Answer: a) Embryos from nucellar or integumentary tissues without fertilization

(a) Correct. Adventive embryos are clonal, arise from somatic cells.

Q139. In citrus fruits multiple embryos often develop due to:

a) Polyembryony (nucellar embryony) giving rise to both zygotic and nucellar embryos
b) Parthenocarpy only
c) Cleistogamy
d) Only seeds without embryos

Answer: a) Polyembryony (nucellar embryony) giving rise to both zygotic and nucellar embryos

(a) Correct. Many citrus seeds show polyembryony.

Q140. Seed formation begins after:

a) Pollination only
b) Successful fertilization (syngamy & endosperm formation) and subsequent embryogenesis
c) Only after fruit ripening
d) Immediately at floral bud stage

Answer: b) Successful fertilization (syngamy & endosperm formation) and subsequent embryogenesis

(b) Correct. Fertilization initiates seed development.

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Part 7 — Seed development, fruit types, special modes (apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony) (25 MCQs)