MCQ Detailed View

Fruits are classified based on how they develop from flowers. Most fruits, like apples and guavas, develop from a single flower and are called simple fruits. However, some fruits develop from a cluster of flowers, called an inflorescence, and are known as multiple or composite fruits.

A pineapple is a classic example of a fruit that develops from an inflorescence. Each “eye” on the surface of a pineapple represents an individual flower from the inflorescence. During fruit formation, the flowers fuse together to form a single, large, composite fruit. This process allows the pineapple to grow as a single fruit even though it originates from many flowers.

In contrast:

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  Apple develops from a single flower’s ovary (simple fruit).

  
  


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  Guava also develops from a single flower (simple fruit).

  
  


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  Grape grows from a cluster of single flowers, but each grape is an individual fruit, not a fused multiple fruit.

  
  

The development of fruits from an inflorescence is an important concept in plant morphology and botany, as it helps in identifying types of fruits, understanding plant reproduction, and studying agricultural crops. Multiple fruits like pineapple, jackfruit, and mulberry are economically important because they provide unique nutritional and commercial value.

Understanding which fruits develop from an inflorescence also helps in botanical classification and agriculture science, as these fruits often require different cultivation and harvesting techniques compared to simple fruits. Pineapple, for example, needs careful pollination management to ensure proper fruit development from the inflorescence.

In summary, among the options given, the correct answer is Pineapple, as it is the only fruit that develops from a fused cluster of flowers in an inflorescence.