Structure of a Fruit:
A typical fruit consists of two main pairs –
-
i. Pericarp
ii. Seed
Pericarp:
It is the wall of the fruit. It may be thin and dry or maybe ick and fleshy. A thick and fleshy pericarp is differentiated into three distinct regions –
i. Epicarp: It is the outermost thin region that forms the skin of the fruit. Mango is green when young and becomes colored when ripened.
ii. Mesocarp: It is the middle region which may be thin membranous, hard, and stony as in palms. In mango, the mesocarp is fleshy, juicy, and edible.
iii. Endocarp: Innermost region which is generally hard and woody that covers the seed.
Seed:
A fruit may bear one or more than one seed. Seed-coat may be closely adhered to the endocarp or may be easily separated.