CLASSIFICATION OF
FRUITS & VEGETABLES
What are fruits and vegetables?
A fruit is a seed-bearing structure that develops from the ovary of a flowering plant.
Vegetables are all other plant parts, such as roots, leaves and stems.
Ø Fruits are the parts of plants that develops from the flower.
Ø The fruit contains the seeds of the plant.
Ø A fruit may have dry or fleshy tissue.
Ø A lot of fruits that are botanically fruits, which are savory rather than sweet, are typically
considered vegetables by chefs.
Ø This includes such botanical fruits as eggplants, bell peppers and tomatoes.
Classification of fruits
Fruits are classified according to four criteria.
Based on Simple Aggregate Multiple Modified
morphology fruits fruits fruits berry fruits.
Based on
Temperate Tropical Sub-tropical
climate fruits. fruits. fruits.
adaptability
Based on
Short day Long day Day neutral
photoperiodi fruits fruits fruits.
c response
Based on Non-
Climacteric
rate of fruits.
climacteric
respiration fruits.
Based on morphology
Simple fruits
Ø One fruit that is developed from a single ovary of a simple
flower.
Example: Apple, pear, tomato, banana peach.
Aggregate fruits
Ø One flower that produces many tiny fruits clustered together
tightly. Or, Fruits that are developed from several ovaries of a
single flower.
Example: Raspberries, blackberries etc. Simple fruits Aggregate fruits
Multiple fruits
Ø A fruit formed from the ovaries of flowers borne in a compact
inflorescence. The fruits unite at maturity
Example: Jackfruit, pineapple etc.
Modified berry fruits.
Ø Botanically speaking, a berry is a simple fleshy fruit produced
by a single ovary. There are two different kinds of modified
berries, the hesperidium and the pepo. Multiple fruits Modified berry fruits.
Example: Hesperidia are citrus fruits with thick, bitter rinds and
very juicy interiors such as lemons, limes, and kumquats.
Based on climate adaptability
Temperate fruits
Ø Fruits borne on the trees growing in the temperate climates.
Ø These fruits generally borne on the vines, brambles or herbaceous plants
grown under temperate climate.
Ø Nuts are characterized by the hard shell outside, separating the kernel and Temperate fruits
husk of the fruit also are good examples of temperate fruit.
Example: Apple , pear , stone fruit etc.
Tropical fruits
Ø A tropical fruit is a fruit which is produced by a tree native to the tropics
(within the region of tropic of cancer and tropic of Capricorn) - a region
where the environmental conditions are unique(hot and humid region)
which creates a habitat for incredibly diverse plants. Tropical fruits
Example: papaya, guava, starfruit, pineapple, kiwi, acai, mango, banana etc.
Sub-tropical fruits
Ø Subtropical or Mediterranean fruits are edible fruits that are not
hardy to extreme cold and do not grow in Northern climates. They do
tolerate some frost though and may even require some colder
weather to bear fruits. Sub-tropical fruits
Example: Durian, grapes , jackfruit etc.
Based on photoperiodic response
Short day fruits
Ø Short-day Fruit plants are those plants that flower when they are
exposed to long periods of darkness and short periods of light.
Example: Strawberries etc. Short day fruits
Long day fruits
Ø Long-day fruit plants require less darkness to generate the
reaction needed for production. These plants need about eight
hours of darkness to start flowering.
Example: Passionfruit, Apple, banana etc.
Day neutral fruits Long day fruits
Ø Day-neutral fruit plants do not depend upon the amount of
darkness or daylight hours. These plants respond to the aging
process. As the plant matures, the flower blooms or the plant
flowers and sets fruit.
Example: Papaya, Guava etc.
Day neutral fruits
Based on rate of respiration
Climacteric fruits
ØThe fruits whose ripening associated with
increased ethylene production and a rise in
cellular respiration which means continues to
ripen even after picking up from trees.
Example: Bananas, melons, apricots, and Climacteric fruits
tomatoes
Non-climacteric fruits
ØThe fruits in which ethylene production does not
increase during ripening which means these
fruits doesn’t continue to ripen after picking up
from tress. Non-climacteric fruits
Example: Leechy, grapes, cherries, raspberries,
strawberries, cashews etc.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF VEGETABLES
BULBS: The underground structure where the plant’s
nutrient reserves are stored.
Round bud with a stem and overlapping leaves.
EXAMPLES: Chive, Garlic, Leek, Onion, Shallot
FLOWER: The blooms or flower buds of edible plants
eaten as vegetables.
EXAMPLES: Artichoke, Broccoli, Cauliflower
FRUIT: Contains the seeds of the vegetable.
EXAMPLES: Cucumber, Eggplant, Pepper, Squash,
Tomato
LEAVES: LEAVES OF EDIBLE PLANTS CONSUMED
AS VEGETABLES.
EXAMPLES: BRUSSEL SPROUTS, CABBAGE, LETTUCE, KALE,
SPINACH
ROOT: The fleshy roots of edible plants
consumed as vegetables.
EXAMPLES: Beets, Carrots, Jicama, Parsnips,
Turnip
SEEDS: Vegetables grown and
eaten from seeds.
EXAMPLES: Corn, Green Beans, Peas
STEM: EDIBLE STALK AND
LEAVES OF PLANTS CONSUMED AS VEGETABLES.
EXAMPLES: ASPARAGUS, BOK CHOY, CELERY,
RHUBARB
TUBER: Grown underground.
EXAMPLES: Potatoes
