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Questions and Answers
Where did the eggplant originate?
Which of the following is NOT a member of the Cucurbita genus?
What characteristic is common among members of the Heath family?
What type of fruit does the female flower of the pumpkin family develop into?
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Which of the following berries is NOT part of the Vaccinium genus?
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What is the primary use of dried and hollowed fruits in early civilizations from the pumpkin family?
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Which of the following is a significant edible berry from the Heath family?
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What type of fruit is produced by the raspberry and blackberry species in the subfamily Rosidae?
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In the subfamily Prunoidae, what part of the fruit is primarily eaten?
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Which of the following fruits develops from an inferior ovary?
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What is the main characteristic of a drupe fruit in the subfamily Prunoidae?
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What distinguishes the aggregate fruit of the strawberry from that of the raspberry?
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Which fruit type develops from non-floral hypanthium tissue in the subfamily Maloidae?
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What fruit from the subfamily Prunoidae is considered a roasted seed?
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What type of fruit is produced by the species in the subfamily Maloidae?
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Which fruit is known for containing significant amounts of caffeine?
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What is the native region of the olive tree?
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Which of the following fruits requires cooking before consumption?
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What beverage is produced from the arils of pomegranate seeds?
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Where was the kiwi first commercialized?
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Which fruit is primarily grown for wine production?
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Which fruit must undergo treatment with caustic soda to remove bitterness?
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Which of the following fruits is considered a significant carbohydrate source in the tropics?
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What is the primary part of the durian fruit that is consumed?
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Which of the following characteristics describes the avocado fruit?
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Where is the mango tree originally from?
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What type of fruit is classified as a true nut?
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Which country is NOT mentioned as the indigenous region for papaya?
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What is the main culinary use of unripe mango fruit?
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What distinguishes the seed of a walnut from other edible seeds?
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Which vitamin is avocados particularly high in?
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Which part of the almond fruit is inedible?
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What type of fruit does the hazelnut produce?
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What is the primary use of cashew apples?
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Which nut is indigenous to the southern United States?
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Which tree is known for having its seeds roasted to remove irritant oil?
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What family does the almond belong to?
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What is unique about the Brazil nut's fruit maturation period?
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Study Notes
Rose Family: Key Subfamilies and Fruits
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Rosoideae Subfamily: Economically Important: raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
- All produce aggregate fruits, not true berries.
- Rubus Genus (raspberry, blackberry): Receptacle remains behind, creating a "hollow" appearance. Aggregate fruit with numerous small drupelets.
- Fragaria Genus (strawberry): Fleshy receptacle is eaten. Aggregate fruit with tiny achenes (nutlets) on the fleshy receptacle.
Prunoideae Subfamily
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Prunus Genus: plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, and almonds.
- Most originating from Eastern and Central Asia.
- Produce "stone" fruit (drupe), developing from a single ovule.
- Drupe Structure: Edible exocarp (skin) and mesocarp (fleshy part), with an inedible endocarp (stone) around the single seed.
- Almond Exception: Edible is the seed (roasted), not the fleshy part.
Maloideae Subfamily
- Economically Important: Apple, pear, quince
- Produce a pome fruit:
- Develops from an inferior ovary.
- Edible part from non-floral hypanthium (receptacle) tissue.
- Inedible pericarp (core) contains the seeds.
Eggplant/Aubergine
- Origin: India, significant dietary item.
- Fruit variation: size, shape, and color.
- Commonly used in India and parts of Europe (Greek mousaka).
- Flesh typically fried or baked.
Pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae) Family
- Wide Distribution: Tropical and subtropical regions.
- Vines with Separate Flowers: Male and female flowers on the same or different plants.
- Pepo Fruit: Female flower's inferior ovary develops into a pepo, a modified berry-type fruit.
- Agricultural Importance: Significant in the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia) and New World (Americas).
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Important Food Crops:
- Cucurbita Genus: Pumpkin, butternut squash, gourd, zucchini/summer squash. Native to the Americas (Mexico and/or Peru).
- Cucumis Genus: Melons and cucumber. Native to Africa.
- Citrullus Genus: Watermelon. Native to Southwest Africa.
- Other Tropical Species: Chayote, luffa gourd, bottle gourd.
Heath (Ericaceae) Family
- Global Distribution: Found worldwide, especially in north temperate regions.
- Woody Shrubs: Thrive in acidic soils and rely on mycorrhizal associations.
- Leaves: Evergreen, thick, waxy.
- Ornamental Shrubs: Rhododendrons, heathers, heaths.
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Vaccinium Genus: Blueberry, bilberry, lingonberry, cranberry.
- Cranberry fruit contains caffeine, used in South American caffeinated beverage.
- Popular ingredient in energy drinks worldwide.
Mulberry (Moraceae) Family
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Multiple Fruit Production: White mulberry (Morus alba), black mulberry (Morus nigra), figs, breadfruit, jackfruit.
- White and black mulberries are minor temperate crops.
- Figs are commercially significant.
- Breadfruit and jackfruit are major carbohydrate sources in the tropics.
- Breadfruit is starchy and needs to be cooked.
- Jackfruit has a pineapple-melon flavor.
Other Temperate Fruits
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Grape (Vitis vinifera): Large perennial vine native to the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Most grown for wine production, some for fresh consumption or raisins.
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Pomegranate (Punica grantum): Small tree native to the Middle East.
- Multi-seeded fruit with bright red pulp (arils).
- Aril juice used in grenadine.
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Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa): Indigenous to China, commercialized in New Zealand.
- Important export crop, also grown in California.
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Olive (Olea europea): Large long-lived tree native to the Mediterranean.
- Fruit is a source of cooking oil.
- Olives are processed for food with caustic soda to remove bitterness.
- Dried or pickled after treatment.
Other Tropical Fruits
- Many subtropical and tropical fruits are either wild-harvested or grown commercially on a small scale.
- Some available in North America but most are locally consumed due to transport difficulties.
Commercially Important Dicots
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Durian (Durio zibethinus): Tall tree native to western Malaysia.
- Large, prickly fruit, very popular in Southeast Asia.
- Edible fleshy aril surrounding the seeds.
- Strong sulphurous aroma, complex flavor, creamy texture.
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Avocado (Persea americana): Large tree indigenous to Central America.
- Fruit's mesocarp is rich in oil.
- Highly nutritious, high in calories and a good source of vitamins and minerals.
- Guacamole is mashed avocado paste with spices.
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Mango (Mangifera indica): Large tree native to India and Malaysia.
- Cultivated for at least 4,000 years.
- Ripe fruit is a sweet dessert.
- Unripe fruit is used in cooking (mango chutney).
- Belongs to the same family as cashew and pistachio.
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Papaya (Carica papaya): Small tropical tree indigenous to Central America.
- Large, yellow fruit, popular in many tropical countries.
- Now commonly available in Europe and North America.
Nuts
- Botanical Definition: Dry, one-seeded indehiscent fruit with a hard, woody pericarp (e.g., hazelnut).
- Common Usage: Edible, high-protein seeds from certain plants.
Temperate Nuts
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Walnut (Juglans regia): Large tree indigenous to Southeast Europe and Western Asia.
- Drupe-like fruit with a bitter-tasting mesocarp.
- Edible seed is extracted from the woody endocarp (shell).
- Seeds can also be processed into cooking oil.
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Pecan (Carya illinoinensis): Large tree indigenous to the Southern United States and Mexico.
- Fruit splits open to reveal the nut (woody endocarp with a single edible seed).
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Almond (Prunus dulcis): Small tree native to Western Asia, member of the Rose family.
- Fruit is a drupe with a bitter, inedible mesocarp.
- Edible seed is extracted from the woody endocarp (shell).
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Hazelnut (Corylus avellana): Tall shrub native to Eurasia.
- A "true" nut (botanical definition) with a single seed inside a woody pericarp.
Tropical Nuts
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Cashew (Anacardium occidentale): Large evergreen tree native to Northeast Brazil.
- Seeds are roasted to remove irritant oil.
- Swollen fruit stalks (cashew apples) are used for jams, candied fruit, and drinks.
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Pistachio (Pistacia vera): Small tree indigenous to Central Asia.
- Fleshy drupe-like fruit with a woody endocarp (shell) that reveals an edible seed.
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Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa): Enormous tree native to Amazonian rainforests.
- Large woody capsule that takes 15 months to mature.
- Capsule contains 10-25 large edible seeds.
- Important income for indigenous peoples.
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Macadamia Nut (Macadamia integrifolia): Native to Southeast Australia, introduced to Hawaii.
- Important commercial crop in Hawaii.
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Description
Explore the key subfamilies of the Rose family, including Rosoideae, Prunoideae, and Maloideae. Learn about economically important fruits like raspberries, peaches, and apples, as well as their unique structures and growth characteristics.
