Final answer:
A seedless fruit is an example of __parthenocarpy___.
A seedless fruit is an example of parthenocarpy, a process where fruit develops without seed formation, often selected for by agriculturalists to produce seedless fruit varieties.
The correct answer is option b) parthenocarpy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A seedless fruit is an example of parthenocarpy. This biological phenomenon occurs when a fruit develops without the formation of seeds or when seeds are initiated but aborted soon after. It is a process selected by early agriculturalists and developed in breeding programs to produce seedless varieties of certain fruits, like watermelons and bananas. Parthenocarpy is different from other plant reproduction methods such as apomixis, which involves the formation of seeds without fertilization, but still leading to the propagation of the plant.
The correct answer is option b) parthenocarpy.