Question

Is ethylene a plant growth inhibitor or promoter?

Answer 1

Ethylene:

1. Ethylene is a group of plant growth regulators that are widely used for the purpose of ripening fruits and for the production of more flowers and fruits.
2. The ethylene found in plants acts as a growth regulator, even in trace amount throughout the entire plant life by regulating and stimulating the opening of flowers, fruit ripening, and shedding of leaves.
3. Ethylene could fit into any of the groups. However, it largely acts as an inhibitor of growth activities. Some important uses of ethylene:
   1. It regulates a number of physiological processes thus used as a plant growth regulator.
   2. Ethylene lamps could be used for color development and for the ripening of fruits such as banana, mango, apple, etc.
   3. It also induces a feminizing effect in plants, which means used to increase the number of female flowers in a plant to induce fruiting.