Question

An accessory fruit is one which develops from
A. An ovary
B. Ovary and thalamus
C. Unfertilised ovary
D. Inflorescence

Answer 1

Hint: Accessory fruit means fruit that is developed from some of different parts other than just the ovary and has enlarged accessory structures or whorls. We do not add the term accessory to all fruits since it depends on what part of the flower is modified into fruit.

Complete answer:
A fruit is that specific structure of flowering plants that encloses the seed and is formed from the ovary after flowering. Inside the ovary, there may be one or more than one ovule present. After the process of fertilization, which mainly includes double fertilization, a zygote and the nutritive tissue of the zygote is formed which is called the endosperm. At a later developmental stage, the ovules will become seeds. However, the ovary wall will ripen and turn fleshy to give rise to the pericarp. Fruits may be of different types. They may be simple where they develop from only one ovule for example strawberry. There may be multiple fruits which develop from a cluster of flowers for example in pineapple. However, when the fruits do not derive from the ovary but from other tissue, such fruit is called an accessory fruit. They can be of many types for example simple or aggregate. They can include one or more pistils and other parts from the same flower, or the pistils and other parts of many flowers.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Accessory fruits are also known as false fruits or pseudocarp. Examples of accessory fruits include apples, figs, and strawberries. For example in prickly pear, the hypanthium forms the fruit and the receptacle becomes incorporated into the prickly pear.