Parthenocarpy

Parthenocarpy: 

• This term is coined by Noll (1902). It is the condition in which fruit is developed without the process of fertilization. It occurs naturally in some varieties of Pineapple, Banana, Papaya, etc.  

• In these plants, it seems that the placental tissue in the unfertilized ovary produces auxin IAA (Indole-3 Acetic Acid) which is responsible for enlargement of ovary into fruit. The fruit resembles the normally produced fruit, but it is seedless. 

• Normally, fertilization initiates fruit growth, but in parthenocarpy, fruits grow without the need for seeds to form. This occurs naturally in some plants but can also be inducedby plant hormones such as auxin.  

• The resulting fruits look like regular ones but don't have seeds. Parthenocarpy is useful in agriculture because it produces seedless fruits, that are often more convenient to eat and market.