MP Board · Class 12 · Biology · Sexual Reproduction in Flowering PlantsWhat is parthenocarpy? Give an example.

Parthenocarpy is defined as the natural or artificially induced developmental process through which fruits develop from the ovary without prior fertilization of the ovules. Because fertilization does not take place, parthenocarpic fruits are characteristically seedless, making them highly desirable for commercial consumption and food processing industries. A classic, naturally occurring example of parthenocarpy is found in commercially cultivated bananas, and the condition can also be artificially induced in tomatoes and grapes using plant growth hormones like auxins and gibberellins.