Parthenocarpy: Definition, Types, Hormones, Advantages, Examples

Parthenocarpy is the formation of fruits without fertilization. These fruits are either non-viable or seedless. Stenospermocarpy fruits produced by naturally and Artificially. Parthenocarpy or Stenospermocarpy occurs as a mutation in nature occasionally.

Stenospermocarpy seeds are actually aborted & small. If parthenocarpy is occurring as a mutation in nature it affects every flower of the plant which can no longer sexually reproduce. But these types of plants my TV able to propagate by vegetative or apomixis mode of reproduction.

Up to 20% of the wild fruits parthenocarpic. When pollination is unsuccessful it may be an advantage to a plant because it is helpful to provide food for the plant’s seed disperses. When plants move from one area to another area of the world may not always be with their pollinating. Due to lack of pollinators has spurred human cultivation of parthenocarpic varieties of the plants.

Parthenocarpy is a very old procedure to produce seedless fruits. The first oldest known cultivated plant is fig. This Parthenocarpic fig was grown at least 11,200 years ago.

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Parthenocarpy: Types

There are two types of parthenocarpy found in nature

A) Natural Parthenocarpy

Natural parthenocarpy is when seedless fruits are produced without any special treatment. Seedless fruits are produced from the ovaries in the absence of pollination and fertilization without any special treatment. Because this is the natural process by which seedless fruits are produced so that the process is called natural parthenocarpy.

Examples of natural parthenocarpy- there are so many examples found the nature Such as Grapes, Banana, Pineapple, Noval orange are very popular examples of natural parthenocarpy.

B) Induced Parthenocarpy

Induced parthenocarpy is when seedless fruits are produced from the ovary by giving with special treatment to the flower. In this case, special treatments are given to flower to produce seedless fruits. The special treatment used to induced parthenocarpy is either water extract of pollen grains or growth-promoting hormones. As the name suggests induced (Artificial) + Parthenocarpy (Production of Seedless Fruit). So an Artificial Process to produce seedless fruits so this is called induced parthenocarpy.

Examples of induced parthenocarpy- Tomato, Lemon, Apple, Orange, Pear, BlackBerry, Fig are some of popular examples of induced parthenocarpy.

Types of Parthenocarpy on the basis of Stimulation

On the basis of the nature of the initiation of Parthenogenesis. There are two types of Parthenocarpy found in nature.

Some plants require pollination or another stimulation for parthenocarpy, termed stimulative parthenocarpy. Example- Seedless Watermelon
Plants that do not require pollination or other stimulation to produce parthenocarpic fruit termed vegetative parthenocarpy. Example- Seedless cucumbers

Parthenocarpy: Hormones

Natural parthenocarpy doesn’t need any special treatment. So there is no use of any type of chemical or Hormon in natural parthenocarpy. Treatment is only the requirement in induced parthenocarpy to produce seedless fruits. These are some examples of chemical or hormones used in induced parthenocarpy.

1. Water extract of pollen grains- This Extract of pollen grains with water is very useful for parthenocarpy.

2. Growth promoting hormones- Growth-Promoting hormones are those hormones which are helpful in the growth of plants. These hormones induced the growth of flowers and fruits also.

Names of Growth-Promoting Hormones
1. Indole acetic acid (IAA)
2. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)
3. Gibberellic acid (GA)

Advantages of Parthenocarpy

Parthenocarpic fruits are more healthy as compared to natural fruits. We can get our desired results with the help of parthenocarpy.
Parthenocarpy improves quality of fruits. We can get high-quality fruits with the help of parthenocarpy which is not possible by nature.
Parthenocarpy reduces the complete cost of cultivation of crops.
Parthenocarpy can reduce the total time required by a crop.
Parthenocarpy improves the yield of the crop. We can get more profit from a crop with the help of parthenocarpy.
Parthenocarpy keeps the insects and pests away because there is no need for pollination. Insects are required for pollination. So parthenocarpy protects the plant from being attacked by pesticides.
Parthenocarpy is a desirable trait at present in edible fruit such as banana, pineapple, orange and grapefruit, tomato and summer squash.
In dioecious species, parthenocarpy increases fruit production because there is no need to be planted to provide pollen for staminate trees.

Disadvantages of Parthenogenesis

Seedless fruits can not be used to produce new progeny of any plant. The seed is only the medium by which any plant can be produced.
Parthenocarpy is undesirable in nut crops because the seed is the edible part.
Quality and Size of fruits get changed in case of Parthenocarpic fruits as compared to the normal state.

Some important points related to Parthenocarpy

Give an example of natural occurring parthenocarpic fruit- Banana
Types of parthenocarpy- Natural parthenocarpy and induced Parthenocarpy
The process of embryo formation without fertilization- Parthenocarpy
Formation of fruits without fertilization- Parthenocarpy
Parthenogenesis refers to a fruit- Seedless without fertilization
Which fruits will lose its economic value if it is parthenocarpic fruit? – Pomegranate

Some FAQs about Parthenocarpy

1. What is parthenocarpy?

Parthenocarpy is the process of production of fruits without fertilization. Parthenocarpic fruits are seedless.

2. What are the types of parthenocarpy?

Parthenocarpy is of Two Types 1. Natural Parthenocarpy 2. Induced Parthenocarpy
Natural parthenocarpy is when seedless fruits are produced by nature and induced parthenocarpy is when seedless Fruits are Produced by Spraying some Chemicals or growth-promoting hormones or growth regulators.

3. How is parthenocarpy Induced Artificially?

Parthenocarpy is induced artificially by spraying water extract of pollen grains or growth-promoting hormones such as gibberellins, auxin and cytokinin are sprayed on flowers.

4. Name some parthenocarpic fruits?

Cucumber, Grapes, Banana, oranges, pineapple, Fig are some of the fruits popular examples of parthenocarpic fruits.

5. What is stimulative Parthenocarpy?

When pollination occurs but fertilization is absent. It occurs by the insertion of the ovipositor of a wasp into the ovary.

6. Are seedless grapes naturally occurring?

No, But some mutant variety would produce seedless grapes naturally.

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Parthenocarpy: Definition, Types, Hormones, Advantages and Disadvantages