Introductory Crop Physiology (1+1)

Ethylene

Ethylene

• Ethtylene is sole growth regulator known which is a gas of small hydrocarbon molecule, easily synthesized in chemistry labs.
• The benefits of ethylene as fruit ripener were known for centuries prior to it being identified as plant product in the early 1900’s.
• Chinese gardeners knew centuries ago that fruits ripened better in rooms with burning incense.
• Citrus growers used kerosene stoves in the rooms in which they ripened their fruits.
• During the era of gas lamps, leaking lamps along city streets often promoted leaf abscission.
• Today, grocer warehouses have ethylene rooms that are used for ripening most of produce of our produce, which shipped unripe.
• Immature fruits are firmer and less subject to damage.
Structure of Ethylene- H₂C=CH₂


Ethylene is known to affect the following plant processes

• Stimulates the release of dormancy.
• Stimulates shoot and root growth and differentiation (triple response)
• May have a role in adventitious root formation.
• Stimulates leaf and fruit abscission.
• Stimulates Bromiliad flower induction.
• Stimulates flower opening.
• Stimulates flower and leaf senescence.
• Stimulates fruit ripening.
• Ethylene promotes female flower production in some members of the cucurbitaceae, whereas high GA may promote formation of male flowers.