Question map
It is possible to produce seedless tomato fruits by
Explanation
Option 3 is correct. Seedless (parthenocarpic) tomato fruits can be produced by applying plant hormones to flowers or ovaries: exogenous auxins and gibberellins (and sometimes cytokinins) trigger fruit set and growth without fertilization, yielding seedless fruits [1]. Reviews and experimental studies document induction of parthenocarpy by auxins (e.g., 2,4-D, NAA), gibberellins (GA3), and related regulators, and show hormonal treatments mimic pollination signals to initiate ovary growth [1]. Transcriptome analyses comparing pollinated and hormone-treated ovaries confirm that 2,4‑D/GA3 treatments activate the pathways leading to seedless fruit development [2]. Trace-element, generic mineral foliar sprays or radioactive fertilizers do not reliably induce parthenocarpy and are not standard methods for producing seedless tomatoes.
Sources
- [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8788353/
- [2] https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0125355