Seedless fruits like oranges, grapes, and watermelons are commonly known for not having seeds.
Many fruits that are commercially available without seeds are actually cultivated varieties that have been bred to be seedless. This seedlessness, also known as parthenocarpy or stenospermocarpy, arises from different biological mechanisms:
- Parthenocarpy: The fruit develops without fertilization. These fruits are truly seedless.
- Stenospermocarpy: Fertilization occurs, but the embryo aborts, leaving behind only soft, undeveloped seed traces.
Here's a breakdown of some common seedless fruits:
- Grapes: Seedless grapes are very popular, such as Thompson Seedless. They are mostly parthenocarpic.
- Watermelons: Seedless watermelons are a hybrid. Their seedlessness is due to the triploid nature of the plant (having three sets of chromosomes instead of the usual two), which causes sterility.
- Oranges: Navel oranges are seedless due to a mutation that occurred many years ago. They are propagated through cuttings or grafting.
- Bananas: The Cavendish banana, the most widely consumed type, is seedless and propagated through cloning.
- Cucumbers: Some cucumber varieties are bred to be seedless.
The preference for seedless fruit is often driven by convenience and ease of consumption. Seedlessness eliminates the need to spit out seeds, making for a more enjoyable eating experience.
