Parthenocarpy, a Strategy for Fruit Development under Adverse Environmental Conditions
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Date
2006-12
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Publisher
BB Biogen
Abstract
Description
In plants fertilized ovule and ovary synthesize auxine phytohormones sustaining seeds and fruit production (Archbold and Dennis 1985). The development of fruit without
pollination and fertilization is called parthenocarpy, therefore parthenocarpy fruits are
seedless. Parthenocarpy offers the possibility of improving fruit set when environmental
conditions are adverse for pollen production, germination and fertilization; moreover in some crops the absence of seeds can improve fruit quality (e.g. banana, eggplant, persimmon, grape, watermelon), while in other ones (e.g. Actinidia) might also improve productivity. Parthenocarpy can have a genetic basis (genetic or natural parthenocarpy) or it can be artificially induced. Genetic parthenocarpy is called obligatory when the expression of the parthenocarpy trait is not influenced by external factors and facultative if it occurs only under conditions adverse for pollination and fertilization. Artificially induced parthenocarpy can be observed in several plant species by treating flowers with plant growth factors or by pollination with incompatible pollen or X-rays irradiated pollen.
Keywords
Parthenocarpy, fruit, genetic