1. Flower Formation

Fruit development begins with a flower, which contains the plant’s reproductive organs.

Flowers usually have:

Stamens (male parts): anther and filament

Carpels/Pistils (female parts): stigma, style, ovary

2. Pollination

Pollination happens when pollen grains from the anther (male) are transferred to the stigma (female).

This can occur via:

Wind

Insects (like bees)

Birds

Water

Animals

3. Fertilization

Once on the stigma, the pollen grain forms a pollen tube that grows down through the style to reach the ovary.

Inside the ovary are ovules (egg cells).

The sperm from the pollen travels down the tube and fertilizes an ovule, forming a zygote (a baby seed).

4. Seed and Fruit Development

After fertilization:

The zygote becomes a seed.

The ovary wall thickens and develops into a fruit.

The fruit’s job is to protect the seed and help in its dispersal.

5. Ripening

As the fruit matures, it undergoes chemical changes:

Becomes softer

Changes color

Increases in sugar content

These changes make the fruit attractive to animals, who eat it and spread the seeds.