Ethylene: Ethylene could fit into any of the groups. However, it largely acts as an inhibitor of growth activities. Some important uses of ethylene:
It regulates a number of physiological processes thus used as a plant growth regulator.
Ethylene lamps could be used for color development and for the ripening of fruits such as bananas, mango, apple, etc.
It also induces a feminizing effect in plants, which means used to increase the number of female flowers in a plant to induce fruiting.
It is applied to rhizomes, tubers, and seeds to induce early sprouting in them.
It is used for thinning of excess flowers and young fruits such as walnuts, cherry, cotton, etc.
The ethylene found in plant acts as a growth regulator, even in trace amount throughout entire plant life by regulating and stimulating the opening of flowers, fruit ripening and shedding of leaves.