parthenocarpyn.
/ˈpɑːθᵻnəʊˌkɑːpi/, U.S. /ˈpɑrθənoʊˌkɑrpi/ Botany.
The development of a (usually seedless) fruit without prior fertilization or pollination.
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the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > fruit or reproductive product > [noun] > production of fruit without fertilization
parthenocarpy1906
1906 Science 15 Nov. 620/1 Under the caption General Questions are taken up sexual affinity,..parthenocarpy, apogamy, [etc.].
1924 M. Skene Biol. Flowering Plants v. 406 An embryo may develop without fertilisation having occurred. Corresponding to this parthenogenesis we have parthenocarpy, where a fruit is produced without any seeds.
1949 Endeavour 8 191/1 Even in plants which normally produce seeded fruits, parthenocarpy may occur spasmodically.
2002 Sci. Amer. Jan. 94/2 Triploid watermelons cannot produce functional seed, but they do develop good fruit through parthenocarpy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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