Describe how fruits and seeds are suited to their modes of dispersal.

​K.C.S.E Biology Q & A - MODEL 2003PP1QN19

Describe how fruits and seeds are suited to their modes of dispersal.

answers

Water dispersed fruit / seeds

• Mesocarp / seed has air spaces thus light / buoyant to float.
• Therefore carried away by water.
• The fruit / seeds are protected from soaking by water proud pericarp.

Animal dispersed fruits / seeds

• Presence of hooks for attachment to animals; thus carried to other placed
• Fruits are brightly coloured; succulent; aromatic attract animals, which feed on them.
• The seed coats are registrant to digestive enzymes; thus carried to other places on them.
• The seeds are dropped always from parent plant in faeces/ droppings.

Self dispersed fruits / seeds / explosive mechanisms

• The dry pods / fruit split (along lines of weakness / satures)
• Scattering seeds away from parent plant

Wind dispersed fruits / seeds

• Censer mechanism
• Perforated capsule is usually loosely attached to stalk / the long stalk is swayed by wind scattering seeds.
• Presence of hairs / wing – like structure, floss / extensions which increase surface area / for buoyancy making is easy for fruits / seeds to be blown away
• Fruits / seeds are light due to small size; therefore easily carried a ways by wind.