Growth and Development of Horticultural Crops (1+1)

Chemical nature

• Ethylene (C₂H₄) with a molecule weight of 28 is a well known and simplest olefin gas and has the following structural formula.


• Ethylene is flammable and highly voltaic substance that readily undergoes oxidation to produce ethylene oxide. In many plant tissues, ethylene can be fully oxidized to CO2 through ethylene oxide. It is colourless, lighter than air at room temperature and under physiological conditions and is sparingly soluble in water. Ethylene is readily absorbed by potassium permanganate (KMnO4). The latter is frequently used to remove excess ethylene from the storage changers.