Functions of Fruit

Fruits serve several functions beyond simply enclosing the seed. They are an edible source of food and energy for animals. They supply many useful chemicals, including sugars, pectin, organic acids, vitamins and minerals. They protect the developing seeds from unfavourable weather and from being eaten by animals before the seeds are ready. Both fleshy and dry fruits assist seed dispersal, carrying seeds to places distant from the parent plant. In certain cases, the fruit even provides nutrition direct …