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Identification of Fruits and Seeds
1. Aim
To distinguish assigned fruit and seed specimens by visible botanical characters and a verified specimen key. Species labels and final identifications are specified in your college lab manual and instructor's method sheet.
2. Requirements
Instructor-labelled fruit and seed collection, hand lens, forceps, ruler if used, dissection tray, reference key, notebook, and protective equipment for unknown material. Cutting and mounting methods are specified in your college lab manual and instructor's method sheet.
3. Theory
A botanical fruit develops from an ovary and contains or once contained seeds; a seed develops from an ovule. Fruits vary in wall texture, dehiscence, and seed arrangement. A detached seed may be confused with a small whole fruit, so the presence of a fruit wall, seed coat, scar, or attachment point matters. The practical should record shape, surface, number of compartments or seeds when visible, and the condition of the specimen. An identification from a photograph alone has limited confidence if internal characters are hidden.
4. Procedure
- Record the collection code and preserve any supplied label separately from the observation.
- Inspect exterior size, shape, colour, surface, and attachment structures.
- Open a specimen only if instructed; record fruit wall, compartments, and seed location.
- Examine isolated seeds for coat, hilum, and other visible marks.
- Apply a verified key or reference plate and document the characters that support each identification.
5. Calculation, graph, or images as appropriate
| Observation | Actual teaching record |
|---|---|
| Specimen code | Record here |
| Fruit exterior | Record here |
| Fruit wall and compartments | Record here |
| Seed characters | Record here |
| Reference key match | Record here |
| Identity and confidence | Record here |
No numerical assay is needed. Assumed observations for practice only: an assumed dry specimen opens along a seam and releases assumed distinct seeds. These invented observations guide a key but do not establish a real species. Final identification remains your college lab manual and instructor's method sheet.
6. Result
The actual result and any identification or yield conclusion must be recorded here until the teaching method and observed record are confirmed. Safety note: Do not taste seeds or fruits. Unknown specimens may be toxic or allergenic; cut only with supervised tools.
7. References
- Pharmacy Council of India, Pharm.D. Regulations, 2008.
- Prairie View A&M University, Botany Laboratory Manual.
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Theory notes: Remedial Mathematics / Biology