Coconut fibres are obtained from

Question

Accepted Answer

The question asks about the origin of coconut fibres. The correct answer is Option 3, Mesocarp.

Here's a detailed explanation:

**Justification for Option 3 (Mesocarp) being correct:**

*   **Mesocarp** is the middle layer of the pericarp (fruit wall) of a coconut. In the case of a coconut, this layer is thick, fibrous, and surrounds the hard inner shell (endocarp).
*   The fibres obtained from the coconut are commonly known as **coir**. Coir is specifically extracted from the fibrous mesocarp of the coconut fruit. These fibres are strong, durable, and water-resistant, making them suitable for various applications like ropes, mats, brushes, and potting mixes.
*   Botanically, the coconut fruit is a drupe. Its structure includes an outer skin (exocarp), a thick fibrous layer (mesocarp), and a hard woody shell (endocarp) enclosing the seed. The fibres are unequivocally derived from the mesocarp.

**Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**

*   **1. Exocarp:** The exocarp is the outermost layer of the coconut fruit, which is the smooth, green or yellow skin. It is thin and leathery, not the source of the thick, coarse fibres used commercially.
*   **2. Endocarp:** The endocarp is the hard, woody inner layer of the coconut fruit, commonly referred to as the coconut shell. This layer is very hard and stony, designed to protect the seed, and does not yield the pliable fibres known as coir.
*   **4. Seedcoat:** The seedcoat is a thin, brownish layer that directly covers the white fleshy part (endosperm) of the coconut, which is the actual seed. It is a delicate membrane and not the source of the external, commercially valuable coconut fibres.