Question

Ethylene is used for
A) retarding ripening of tomatoes
B) hastening of the ripening of fruits
C) slowing down the ripening of apples
D) both B and C

Answer 1

Ethylene is one of the important plant hormones which plays a key role in leaf senescence. Ethylene is a multifunctional hormone related to growth and senescence. It is widely used in agriculture as it regulates the ripening process.

Complete answer:
Phytohormones are the hormones that play a vital role in the growth and development of plants. Some examples of phytohormones are ethylene, Abscisic acids, auxins, cytokinin. These hormones are produced from different parts of the plant. Let us discuss the vital plant hormone ethylene which is multifunctional.

Ethylene is the phytohormone which plays an essential role in senescence, growth, tropism, stress tolerance and also ripening. It is a gas and is produced by the breakdown of methionine. Ethylene is produced in growing and dividing cells and is mostly produced during the night. Ethylene plays a major role in fruit ripening. As the seeds develop, the ethylene production in the seed increases due to which the seeds get prepared for dispersal. The colour, texture, taste is changed in the fruit due to the ethylene. It fastens the ripening process of the fruits. Hence, they are used for artificial ripening. Apples and bananas produce more ethylene as compared to other fruits. So, they are artificially provided with ethylene to make their ripening faster. Wrapping the fruit with the paper reduces the amount of ethylene gas hence retard or slow ripening.

Therefore, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: Natural ripening of the fruits is a slow process. Fruits like tomatoes are sprayed with ethylene gas so that they become red quickly. Ethylene softens the fruit and also changes its flavour and aroma.