Question

Parthenocarpic tomato fruits can be produced by
A. Removing androecium of flowers before pollen grains are released
B. Treating the plants with a low concentration of gibberellic acid and auxins
C. Raising the plants from vernalized seeds
D. Treating the plants with phenylmercuric acetate

Answer 1

Parthenocarpy is the production of fruits without pollination or fertilization. Because of this, the resulting fruits will not have seeds.

Complete answer:
Option A: Tomato flowers have both androecium and gynoecium in a single flower. Removal of the androecium of flowers before pollen grains are released will prevent self-pollination. This will result in no fertilization and no fruits will be formed. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.
Option B: Parthenocarpy is induced artificially using plant growth regulators. Application of auxin to the stigma of unfertilized tomato flowers will result in fruit formation. Gibberellic acid can also induce fruit formation in unfertilized ovaries. Therefore this is the correct answer.
Option C: Vernalization of seed is the process of seed germination by inducing low-temperature conditions. There are seeds that usually germinate in the winter. They are treated under vernalization during spring, which will act like an imitation of the winter, which will result in their germination. These plans will be normal tomato plants because they are growing from a fertilized seed. This does not induce parthenocarpy. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.
Option D: Phenylmercuric acetate is an organomercury compound which can act as a fungicide. They act as antitranspirants on plant leaves. When applied to plants at low concentrations, they cause the closure of stomata and reduce the loss of water through transpiration. Therefore, this is the incorrect option.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B)

Note: Fruits like pineapple, banana, fig, etc. exhibit natural parthenocarpy.
There are two types of parthenocarpy. In vegetative parthenocarpy, no pollination happens therefore no seeds are produced. In stimulative parthenocarpy, pollination without fertilization takes place.
Parthenocarpy improves crop yield and quality of fruit. It also reduces the cost of cultivation.