Question

Development of seedless fruit would not be useful in case of-

• A. Mango
• B. Grape
• C. Orange
• D. Pomegranate

Hint:

Always look for the "edible part" of the fruit in such questions.
If the seed or its immediate covering is what we eat (like pomegranate or nuts), seedlessness is a disadvantage!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify a fruit where the presence of seeds is actually desirable or essential for the consumer, making the development of a "seedless" variety pointless or counterproductive.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• Seedlessness (Parthenocarpy): This is often a highly sought-after trait in horticulture because seeds can be bitter, hard, or simply an annoyance when eating.

• Desirable Cases:
• Grapes and Oranges: Consumers prefer seedless varieties because the pulp is the edible part, and seeds interfere with the eating experience.

• Mango: A smaller seed or a seedless mango is preferred because it provides more edible mesocarp (pulp).

• The Case of Pomegranate ($Punica \ granatum$): In pomegranate, the edible part is the "aril".

• The aril is technically the juicy, fleshy outgrowth of the seed coat (testa).

• Because the seeds themselves (and their associated arils) are the primary product consumed, a truly "seedless" pomegranate would have no edible material inside.

• Breeders instead work on "soft-seeded" varieties where the sclerotic part of the seed is tender, but they do not aim for complete seedlessness.
Final Answer:
In Pomegranate, the edible part is the seed itself (the aril); therefore, removing the seeds would eliminate the edible portion of the fruit, making seedlessness useless.