Have you ever taken a close look at the various fresh fruits and vegetables available in most grocery stores? Alongside the aisles of canned and boxed foods, grocery stores typically have a large produce section with a wide range of options, from apples to zucchini.
If you’re like most children, you probably enjoy a variety of fruits. Whether it’s apple slices, juicy watermelon, delicious oranges, or succulent pineapples, there’s a fruit to satisfy every sweet tooth.
There are just as many delicious vegetables to choose from, although some kids may not be fond of them. Even if Brussels sprouts and broccoli aren’t your favorites, we bet that potatoes bring a smile to your face.
The impressive variety of fruits and vegetables is due to one simple fact: they come from plants! Since both fruits and vegetables are derived from plants, it’s natural to wonder how they differ from each other.
Fruits contain seeds and develop from the ovaries of flowering plants. The first step in fruit production is pollination. Fruit trees and plants produce flowers, and pollen is spread from one flower to another by bees, bats, birds, and even the wind.
This leads to the second step, fertilization, which results in a fertilized seed within the ovary of the flower. The flower’s petals then fall away, leaving behind an immature fruit that begins to grow.
Inside the ovary, the seed produces hormones that cause the cells of the ovary wall to multiply, expand, and thicken. Throughout the growing season, the “mother” plant receives sunlight, water, and nutrients from the soil to support its growth, which in turn helps the immature fruit grow larger.
Eventually, the fruit releases a hormone called ethylene, which signals the ripening process. Ethylene triggers the release of enzymes that change the fruit’s color and make it softer, sweeter, and more delicious to eat!
On the other hand, vegetables encompass all the other edible parts of a plant, such as roots (carrots, potatoes, and turnips), bulbs (onions), and stems (celery). Vegetables can also include leaves (lettuce, spinach, and kale), stalks (asparagus and corn), and flower buds (broccoli and cauliflower).
In addition to sunlight, water, and the appropriate temperature, plants require specific nutrients from the soil to grow these different parts of a vegetable. For instance, root development relies on potassium, healthy leaves need nitrogen, and flower development depends on phosphorus.
Forming fruits and vegetables requires a lot of effort, and this Wonder of the Day only scratches the surface! The next time you’re at the grocery store, try to imagine what those fruits and vegetables in the produce section looked like when they were growing as plants!
Give It a Try
Feeling hungry? It’s time to engage in the following enjoyable activities with a friend or family member:
- Invite an adult friend or family member to accompany you on a trip to a local grocery store. Take a look at the various fresh fruits and vegetables available for purchase. Choose a few fruits and vegetables to buy, and then bring them home to prepare a delicious dinner with dessert!
- If you have younger children, you can visit the PNC Grow Up Great Lesson Center and explore activities like “Plant Parts We Eat” and “Where Do Fruits Grow?”
- Remember to eat your vegetables! This is a common saying that many kids hear during dinner time. If you don’t find vegetables delicious, you might just need to find ways to make them more appealing. You can check out Kids’ Vegetable Recipes online for some tasty recipes that will surely make vegetables your new favorite foods!
- Are you up for a challenge? You can watch plants grow into vegetables or fruits right in your own home! Learn how to grow food using containers by checking out Wonder of the Day #17. It will be a fun experience to monitor the plant’s growth and eventually enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Sources for Further Reading
- http://plantphys.info/plants_human/fruittype.shtml
- http://plantphys.info/plants_human/fruitgrowripe.shtml
- http://www.livescience.com/33991-difference-fruits-vegetables.html
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-blog/fruit-vegetable-difference/bgp-20056141
- http://homeguides.sfgate.com/flowers-become-fruit-58733.html
- http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/4h/4H36000.pdf
FAQ
1. How do plants produce fruits and vegetables?
Plants produce fruits and vegetables through a process called pollination. Pollination occurs when pollen from the male part of a flower (stamen) is transferred to the female part of another flower (pistil). This can happen through wind, insects, birds, or other animals. Once the pollen reaches the pistil, it fertilizes the ovules, which then develop into seeds. The surrounding tissue of the flower, such as the ovary, swells and becomes the fruit. In some cases, the fruit is the mature ovary itself, while in others, it may also include other parts of the flower. The seeds inside the fruit are essential for the plant’s reproduction and dispersal.
2. What is the purpose of fruits and vegetables for plants?
Fruits and vegetables serve as a means of dispersing seeds for plants. When animals eat the fruit, they also consume the seeds. These seeds are then excreted or dispersed elsewhere, allowing for new plants to grow in different areas. This process helps plants colonize new habitats and increase their chances of survival. Additionally, fruits and vegetables attract animals with their bright colors and sweet or nutritious taste, which helps in the pollination process. Therefore, the purpose of fruits and vegetables is to ensure the reproduction and survival of plants.
3. How do plants determine the size and shape of their fruits and vegetables?
The size and shape of fruits and vegetables are determined by a combination of genetic factors and environmental conditions. Genetic factors control the overall structure and development of the plant, including the size and shape of its fruits. Environmental conditions such as temperature, light, water, and nutrients also play a role in fruit and vegetable development. For example, plants that receive abundant sunlight and water tend to produce larger fruits. Similarly, certain nutrients like potassium and calcium can influence fruit size and shape. However, it is important to note that each plant species has its own characteristic fruit and vegetable size and shape, which is determined by its genetic makeup.
4. What are the different types of fruits and vegetables?
There are various types of fruits and vegetables, each classified based on their characteristics. Fruits can be categorized as fleshy fruits, such as apples and oranges, which have a soft and juicy interior, or dry fruits, such as nuts and grains, which have a hard outer shell. Within the fleshy fruit category, there are further classifications like berries, drupes, and pomes. Vegetables, on the other hand, are classified based on the edible parts of the plant. For example, leafy vegetables include lettuce and spinach, root vegetables include carrots and potatoes, and bulb vegetables include onions and garlic. Each type of fruit or vegetable has its own unique characteristics and nutritional value.
5. Can plants produce fruits and vegetables without pollination?
In most cases, plants require pollination to produce fruits and vegetables. Pollination is necessary for the fertilization of the ovules, which leads to the development of seeds and the formation of fruits. However, there are some plants that can self-pollinate, meaning they can transfer pollen from the male to the female parts of the same flower or the same plant. This allows them to produce fruits and vegetables without the need for external pollinators. Examples of self-pollinating plants include tomatoes, peppers, and beans. However, even in self-pollinating plants, pollination is still essential for genetic diversity and the long-term survival of the species.
6. How long does it take for plants to produce fruits and vegetables?
The time it takes for plants to produce fruits and vegetables varies depending on the plant species and environmental conditions. Some plants can produce fruits within a few weeks, while others may take several months. Factors such as temperature, sunlight, water, and nutrients can affect the growth and development of plants. Additionally, certain fruits and vegetables have specific growth requirements. For example, tomatoes typically take 60-80 days to produce ripe fruits, while watermelons can take 80-100 days. It is important for gardeners and farmers to understand the specific needs of each plant to ensure optimal growth and fruit production.
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