ETHYLENE

Ethylene is a volatile hormone. Ethylene induces the process of leaf fall. It induces senescence in plants. It presents the growth of roots. Ethylene increases the production of fruits of cucumber by inducing the increase in the production of female flowers of this plant. The fruits such as banana, orange, mango, tomato etc which are initially green in color when raw (unripe), change their color slowly under the influence of Ethylene and become yellow orange or red in color and sweet and juicy on ripening. When the leaves of a plant have fallen and the fruits are to be reaped off the plant, Ethylene is required to be sprayed prior to the process of reaping.