Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R:
Assertion A: In flowering plants, the fruit consists of a wall or pericarp and seeds.
Reason R: In flowering plants, the pericarp is always fleshy.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
A is true but R is false.
— Concept: This question tests the understanding of fruit structure in flowering plants, specifically the components of a…Concept: This question tests the understanding of fruit structure in flowering plants, specifically the components of a fruit and the nature of the pericarp.
Why (A) is correct:
- Assertion A: In flowering plants, the fruit consists of a wall or pericarp and seeds. This statement is true. A fruit is essentially a mature or ripened ovary, which develops after fertilization. It encloses the seeds, and its wall is called the pericarp.
- Reason R: In flowering plants, the pericarp is always fleshy. This statement is false. The pericarp can be either fleshy (e.g., mango, guava, tomato) or dry (e.g., groundnut, mustard). Dry fruits can be dehiscent (splitting open) or indehiscent (not splitting open).
Why other options are wrong:
- (B) A is false but R is true: Incorrect, as A is true and R is false.
- (C) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A: Incorrect, as R is false.
- (D) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A: Incorrect, as R is false.
Common Mistake: Students often assume all fruits have a fleshy pericarp because many common edible fruits are fleshy. They forget about dry fruits like nuts and legumes.
NEET Tip: Remember that the pericarp differentiates into three layers: epicarp (outermost), mesocarp (middle), and endocarp (innermost). These layers can vary greatly in thickness and texture, leading to fleshy or dry fruits.
Correct Answer: (A)
A is true but R is false.