Pericarp
PAIR-ih-karp🔬 Anatomy●●● Advanced
Also known as: fruit wall
The pericarp is the fruit wall derived from the ovary wall. It comprises the exocarp (outer skin), mesocarp (fleshy middle layer), and endocarp (inner layer surrounding the seed). Understanding pericarp structure explains why some tomato cultivars hold shape when cooked (thick mesocarp in San Marzano) while others burst easily (thin pericarp in Sungold).
Etymology
Greek peri (around) + karpos (fruit)