In Botanical, the fruit is the Organe Végétal protecting the Graine. Characteristic of the Angiosperme S, it succeeds the Fleur by transformation of the Pistil. The wall of the ovary form the Pericarp of the fruit and the ovule gives the Graine. In the language running and in Kitchen, it is a Aliment vegetable, rich in Sucre and Vitamine S, generally consumed believed in the dessert.

Many fruits are edible, and were improved by the culture, but much of others are toxic. Most dangerous, in particular for the young children are those which resemble bay S, often of bright colors, and for this reason very attracting.

See List of the toxic fruits classified by color .

Botany

Function of the fruit

The function of the fruit is to support the Dissémination of the seeds, during the reproduction. This is done by the means of the animals ( fruits in general coloured), of the wind or water.

See also: Dissemination of the seeds

Formation of the fruit

The fruit is formed starting from the Fleur which was pollinated:

The formation of the fruit results from the transformation of the Pistil after the Fécondation, or sometimes without fecundation (one speaks in this case about Parthénocarpie). It is more precisely the wall of the ovary (left the Pistil which contains the ovule) which becomes the wall of the fruit , called Péricarpe, surrounding seeds. The external skin of this wall becomes the épicarpe, the Parenchyme becomes the Mésocarpe, and the internal skin, the Endocarpe. According to the transformations of this wall, one obtains the various types of fruits enumerated hereafter.

In certain cases, the fruit can have a more complex origin and to result is:

• of the transformation of other parts of the Fleur, in particular the floral Receptacle. One speaks in this case about False-fruit. The most known example of false-fruit is the Pomme or the strawberry.
• is transformation of several flowers of a Inflorescence. It is for example the case of the fruit of the Mûrier, the Mûre, the Ananas.

Flower with the fruit , in image

• the tomato-cherry:

, the worldwide production of fruits is of 465 million tons in 2003 is an increase of approximately 30% in 10 years.

Classification of the fruits most cultivated in the world

Figures of the year 2000

As comparison, 692 million tons of vegetables was produced the same year.

Principal world producers

• by continent:

42% of the worldwide production of fruits come from Asia against 14% of Europe, 13% of South America, 12,5% of North America, 12,5% of Africa and 6% of Oceania.

• by country:

China - 19% (with a production increasing from approximately 6% each year between 1996 and 2003)

- 14% (0,9% of annual increase) - 2nd exporter

India - 12% (2,7% of annual increase)

the United States - 1st exporting country with almost 3 million exported tons (mainly grape, oranges and apples) including 47% towards the Canada

Mexico - 4th exporter

Chile - 3rd exporter

South Africa - 5th exporter

Yearly consumption per capita

Continent - Yearly consumption per capita in kg

1. South America - 120,2
2. North America - 118,6
3. Oceania - 109,1
4. Europe - 82,8
5. Africa - 53,9
6. Asia - 45,5

World mean - 61,6

References

Random links:

1109 | Taïzôkaï | The Community of communes of the Country of Sault (Vaucluse) | Ueli Sutter | Paul Rosenberg (galerist)