Fig 19-38. Cross-section (enlarged about eight times) of a small green Marshall strawberry showing: A) seeds, B.) fibro-vascular bundles to the seeds, C) central cylinder or ring of fibro-vascular bundles, and D) fibro-vascular bundles to seeds connecting with the central ring farther down. These vascular bundles, composed of longer, tougher cells than is the flesh, help to hold the berry together and make it firm. In breeding work, berries with very tough or very weak bundles are discarded. (Darrow)