Fruit Tree Morphology

Study Notes

Fruit Tree Morphology

Fruit trees are long-lived, perennial trees that produce edible fruits.
Root System: Roots absorb water and nutrients, store sugars, and anchor the tree. Root hairs increase surface area for absorption.
- Main roots, lateral roots, and secondary roots are present.
Trunk/Stem: Supports the crown and provides shape and strength.
- Contains layers of bark, xylem, phloem, and cambium which transport water and nutrients.
Branches/Shoots:
- Main branches: Seasonally growing from the tree stem.
- Secondary branches: More than one year old, growing from the main branches.
- Newly branches: Less than one year old, growing from the secondary branches.
Leaves:
- Compound: Composed of multiple leaflets (e.g., Pecan, Date Palm)
- Simple: Single leaf blade (e.g., Mango, Peach, Pomegranate)
- Photosynthesis occurs in leaves, using sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen.
Buds:
- Terminal (apical): Located at the tip of a stem.
- Axillary (lateral): Located in the leaf axil.
- Adventitious: Occurs on the trunk, roots, or other locations.
- Bud Types:
  - Vegetative: Contains only embryonic shoots with leaves.
  - Reproductive: Contains embryonic flowers.
  - Mixed: Contains both embryonic leaves and flowers.
Flowers:
- Complete Flower: Possesses sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils.
- Incomplete Flower: Lacks one or more of the above features.
- Perfect Flower: Contains both male (stamens) and female (pistil) parts (e.g., Citrus, Peach, Almond).
- Imperfect Flower:
  - Staminate: Functionally male, only stamens (e.g., Olives, Pecans)
  - Pistillate: Functionally female, only pistils (e.g., Date Palm, Papaya)
Fruits:
- Matured ovaries, may include accessory flower parts.
- Ovary Layers:
  - Exocarp: Outermost layer.
  - Mesocarp: Middle layer.
  - Endocarp: Innermost layer.
- Fruit Types:
  - False (accessory): Includes parts of the flower in addition to the matured ovary (e.g., Apples, Pears, Pomegranate, Guava).
  - True: Consists only of the matured ovary (e.g., Grapes, Mango, Citrus, Apricot, Plum).
  - Fruit Hardening:
    - Fleshy: All ovary layers are soft (e.g., Grapes, Date Palm, Pears, Citrus).
    - Semi-dry: Endocarp (innermost layer) is hard (e.g., Mango, Peach, Olive, Apricot, Plum).
    - Dry: All layers of the ovary are hard (e.g., Nut fruits).
- Other Fruit Types:
  - Aggregate: Many pistils of the same flower (e.g., Strawberry).
  - Multiple: Many pistils from different flowers (e.g., Pineapple).