Glossary

Parthenocarpy is fruit development without fertilization. It is a botanical process rather than a general name for all small or poorly developed fruit. Some mango fruit abnormalities involve absent or failed seed development, but outward appearance alone cannot establish exactly how they arose. Distinguish parthenocarpy from embryo abortion after fertilization and from simple growth limitation. The distinction is useful in breeding and diagnosis, while growers should avoid claiming that every seedless-looking fruit proves a tree is naturally seedless.