Why Do Trees Make Fruit?

Fruit is delicious and a big part of our diets, but trees don’t grow fruit just to feed us. They produce fruit because it helps them reproduce. Let’s dig into the science of fruit and discover why it’s such an important part of a tree’s survival.

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Episode Transcript

I Wonder Podcast (00:03):
Hey there, curious minds, welcome to
another episode of I Wonder, theshow where we explore the
questions you've been wonderingabout.
Today's question comes fromFrida.
Frida asked why do treesproduce fruit?
What a sweet question, Frida.
Fruit sure is delicious, buttrees don't grow fruits just to

(00:26):
feed us.
They produce fruit because ithelps them reproduce.
Let's dig into the science offruit and discover why it's such
an important part of a tree'ssurvival.

(00:49):
Why do trees produce fruit?
Trees produce fruit for onemain reason.
To reproduce.
Like all living things, treeswant to ensure the survival of
their species.
Reproduction is how they createthe next generation of trees.
But since trees can't move,they rely on their seeds to

(01:09):
carry their genetic material tonew places where they can grow.
Fruit plays a crucial role inthis process by protecting the
seeds and helping them gettransported from the parent tree
.
By wrapping their seeds infruit, trees create a strategy
for survival.
The fruit not only shields theseeds from harsh conditions, but

(01:34):
also attracts animals that canspread the seeds to new
locations.
It's a clever way for trees toreproduce without needing to
move.
How does fruit help trees spreadtheir seeds?
If a tree dropped all its seedsdirectly underneath itself, the

(01:55):
young trees would struggle tosurvive.
They'd compete with the parenttree for sunlight, water and
nutrients in the soil.
Fruit helps solve this problemby encouraging animals like
birds, squirrels and even humansto carry the seeds away.
When an animal eats fruit, itoften carries the seeds to a new

(02:17):
location.
Sometimes the seeds passthrough the animal's digestive
system and are deposited in apile of… you guessed it…
fertilizer.
Other times, animals drop theseeds while transporting the

(02:39):
fruit.
Either way, the seeds end up ina new spot where they can grow
without competing with theparent tree.
Trees have evolved to make theirfruit appealing to animals.
That's why fruits are oftensweet, juicy and colorful.

(03:02):
Their sweetness comes fromnatural sugars like glucose and
fructose, which provide energyfor animals.
Bright colors like red, orangeand yellow signal to animals
that the fruit is ripe and readyto eat.
Even the smell of ripe fruit isdesigned to attract hungry

(03:22):
animals.
It's the tree's way of saying"here, eat this and don't forget
to take my seeds with you.
This relationship benefits boththe tree and the animals.
The tree gets its seeds spreadfar and wide and the animal gets
a tasty snack packed withenergy and nutrients.

(03:47):
Not all fruits are edible.
While many fruits are designedto be eaten, others use
different methods to spreadtheir seeds.
For example, coconuts float onwater, allowing them to travel
long distances by ocean currents.
Fruits like burdock have seedsthat stick to the fur of animals

(04:09):
hitching a ride to a newlocation.
Some fruits, like acorns,provide food for animals during
tough seasons, encouraging themto bury seeds that may later
grow into trees.
Even fruits that are edible tosome animals might not be safe
for others.

(04:30):
Certain berries, for example,are toxic to humans but
perfectly fine for birds,showing how trees adapt their
fruit to suit their environment.
Do all fruits have seeds?
What about fruits like bananasor seedless watermelons?
These fruits don't have seedsbecause humans have bred them

(04:53):
that way for convenience.
Most bananas we eat are clonesof a single plant, while
seedless watermelons are grownusing special techniques that
prevent seeds from forming.
In the wild, their relatives dohave seeds, serving the tree's
natural purpose of reproduction.

(05:14):
Here are some fun facts aboutfruit.
Did you know that tomatoes,cucumbers and pumpkins are
technically fruits?
They develop from flowers andcontain seeds, even though we
often think of them asvegetables.
Another fun fact is that theworld's largest fruit is the

(05:36):
jackfruit which can weigh over80 pounds.
That's like carrying a smallperson.
Figs have an especially uniquerelationship with tiny wasps
that pollinate their flowers.
These wasps lay their eggsinside the figs, creating a
fascinating neutral partnershipbetween plant and insect.

(06:02):
So, to answer Frida's question,"why do trees produce fruit?
It's all about survival andreproduction.
By producing fruit, treesprotect their seeds and ensure
they can spread to new locations, giving the next generation the
best chance to grow.

(06:22):
Whether it's a juicy apple, acoconut floating along the water
or a sweet mango, fruit isnature's clever way of helping
trees thrive, and it doesn'thurt that it's also delicious.
Thanks again to Frida for such adelightful question and

(06:44):
remember, if you have a questionyou're curious about, submit it
on our website iwonderpodcast.
com.
We might just feature it in ournext episode of I Wonder.
Until next time, stay curiousand keep wondering.