largefruited

Largefruited is a descriptive term used in botany and horticulture to describe plants whose fruits are larger than the typical size for the species or cultivar. The threshold for what counts as large-fruited is relative and can vary by species, cultivar, and market expectations. It is not a formal taxonomic category.

In breeding and horticultural catalogs, large-fruited traits are selected to meet consumer preferences and market segmentation. Fruit size is commonly measured by weight, diameter, or volume. Breeding aims to increase size while maintaining or improving flavor, texture, yield, storability, and disease resistance. The trait can be linked with other characteristics through genetics, sometimes with trade-offs or pleiotropic effects.

Practical considerations include the resource demands of larger fruit, potential effects on plant architecture and harvest efficiency, and possible increased susceptibility to cracking or bruising. Cultural practices such as irrigation management, fertilization, pruning, and staking may be adjusted to support larger fruits and optimize quality and yield.

Examples of large-fruited forms occur across many crops, including tomatoes, peppers, melons, apples, and berries. In horticultural writing, the term is often hyphenated and appears in cultivar descriptions, breeding program summaries, and market-oriented product labels.