Nonfécondé

Nonfécondé is a term used to describe an ovum or egg cell that has not been fertilized by a sperm cell. In the context of reproduction, an ovum is a female gamete. For fertilization to occur, a sperm cell must penetrate and fuse with the ovum. If this fusion does not happen, the ovum remains nonfécondé.

In many animal species, including humans, unfertilized ova are typically released during ovulation. If they are not met by sperm within a specific timeframe, they will degenerate and be expelled from the body, often as part of the menstrual cycle. The state of being nonfécondé is a natural and common occurrence in the reproductive process.

The term is also relevant in agriculture, particularly with certain fruits like seedless grapes or watermelons. These fruits are often developed from flowers where the ovules (which develop into seeds) were not fertilized by pollen. This results in a fruit that lacks seeds, making it more desirable for consumption. In this agricultural context, "nonfécondé" refers to the unfertilized ovule that develops into a seedless fruit.