Question

Ethylene is used for

• A. Retarding ripening of tomatoes
• B. Slowing down the ripening of vegetables
• C. Ripening of fruits
• D. Slowing down the ripening of apples

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Ripening of fruits

Ethylene (${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{C}={\mathrm{CH}}_2$)

• Ethylene is a group of plant growth regulators which are widely used for ripening fruits and for the production of more flowers and fruits.
• Ethylene is a plant hormone These enzymes convert complex polysaccharides into simple sugars and make the skin of the fruits soft. In artificial ripening, this process is mimicked using chemicals.
• Ethylene is abundantly used in the chemical industry, and polyethene is extremely produced using ethylene. Further, ethylene is also used in agricultural practices to ripen fruits, germinate the seed, etc.
• The most commonly used chemical is called ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid).
• It penetrates into the fruit and decomposes ethylene. Another chemical that is regularly used is calcium carbide, which produces acetylene, which is an analogue of ethylene.

Therefore option (C) is the correct answer.