Fruit ripening gas is a trending search term for agricultural companies. Ethylene ripens fruit evenly, stimulating the ripening of fruits after harvest for climacteric fruits. So, what are the characteristics of ethylene gas that makes fruit ripen quickly, how was it discovered, and what is its biological mechanism of action on plants, as well as how does ethylene ripen fruit?
First, let’s briefly explore some characteristics of the fruit ripening gas and the properties of ethylene in its discovery process.
1. What is Ethylene gas? History of fruit ripening gas
– Ethylene is a simple gas with the molecular structure of a double bond, CH2=CH2. It is a non-toxic, colorless, and odorless gas, only causing fire and explosion when its concentration is higher than 2.7%.
– In 1917, humans first discovered that ethylene gas is a fruit ripening gas that stimulates fruit ripening.
– From 1933 to 1937, many scientists studied the origin of C2H4, finding that it is produced in plant components, mainly in the components of different types of fruits. This also answers the question, “What gas is produced by ripening fruit?“
– In 1935, scientist Crocker and his colleagues confirmed that ethylene is a hormone that promotes ripening. They discovered that ethylene is present in all plant tissues and is produced naturally during metabolism.
Today, we have confirmed that it is a plant phytohormone transported in cells by diffusion and affecting the overall physiological activity of the plant throughout its development.
Ethylene plays an important role in plants, namely in fruit ripening. How does this substance affect the ripening process? And how is it applied to ripen fruit evenly? Let’s explore the content below.
2. Ethylene ripens fruit and how to ripen fruit evenly using ethylene
Because of the properties of the fruit ripening gas, ethylene ripens fruit, it is widely used in life today. This is also a way to ripen fruit evenly after harvest or to slow down the ripening process for longer preservation:
The ripening process of fruit occurs faster under the influence of ethylene gas, so it is used to stimulate the ripening of climacteric fruits. Or fruits that ripen after harvest, such as tomatoes, papayas, persimmons, bananas, mangoes, etc.
Conversely, ethylene is used to slow down the ripening process for commercial preservation. The synthesis of ethylene is slowed down or limited. By removing or gradually reducing the concentration of this gas according to the ripeness of the fruit, or by reducing the temperature and ventilation.
– Evaluation of fruit ripening gas
The advantage of ethylene gas is that the ripening process occurs quickly, in about 2 to 4 days. And the evenness of fruit ripeness is much higher than other traditional ripening methods used today, such as using calcium carbide or storing with neem leaves…
Using ethylene to ripen fruit involves exposing the fruit to ethylene gas at a high concentration of 100-150 ppm for 24 hours. Then, the fruit only needs to be kept at normal conditions, and they will ripen on their own within 2 to 4 days, as mentioned above.
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– Why does ethylene gas ripen fruit?
Ethylene can stimulate ripening because it increases the permeability of cell membranes in the fruit flesh tissue. This leads to the release of enzymes that are separated from the substrate by the membrane barrier, allowing them to come into easier contact.
And from there, it triggers reactions related to fruit ripening.
On the other hand, ethylene also affects the new synthesis of activating enzymes and causes changes in the ripening process. Such as respiratory enzymes, enzymes that change the content of organic acids, tannins to transform product characteristics and create flavor.
3. Some other biological effects of ethylene on plants
The physiological effect of ethylene is evident when its concentration in the air reaches about 0.01 to 10 µl/l for many phenomena. In addition to ethylene ripening fruit, it also stimulates growth, increases size, flowering, leaf shedding, etc.
– Ethylene affects the phenomenon of abscission (leaf shedding)
Abscission of parts such as flowers, fruits, branches, and leaves will begin with the breaking of the petiole. Petiole breaking depends on the ethylene/auxin ratio, with ethylene acting as a stimulant, while auxin inhibits abscission. Leaf shedding is a completely normal physiological phenomenon and plays an important role in the life of perennial plants. It is an adaptive response to unfavorable or favorable weather to regenerate the photosynthetic apparatus.
– Ethylene gas affects nastic movement
Similar to above, ethylene and auxin are two agents that cause induced movement in plants. Auxin indirectly affects this by inducing ethylene synthesis.
– Ethylene stimulates cell expansion laterally
A typical plant response to ethylene is the yellowing of pea seedlings growing in the dark. An ethylene concentration of about 0.1 ml/l will change the growth pattern by slowing down elongation and increasing lateral expansion, leading to swelling in the region below the hook.
– Ethylene breaks dormancy of seeds and buds of some plant species
Ethylene causes dormancy breaking and accelerates seed germination as well as the germination time of some plant species. Ethylene will break bud dormancy, so it is also used to promote sprouting in potatoes and bulbs.
– The role of ethylene in accelerating leaf senescence:
It has been proven that ethylene accelerates leaf senescence. The increase in ethylene production combined with chlorophyll loss, causing leaf discoloration, are characteristics of leaf aging.
– Impact on the development of seedlings:
In 1901, scientist Neljubow demonstrated that ethylene inhibits elongation and stimulates lateral growth. Today, it is also known that it can inhibit or stimulate the elongation of other parts such as stems and roots.
In addition, ethylene is also widely used in other agricultural fields. Learn more about this gas at: Ethylene gas
So, you now understand why ethylene ripens fruit and how it affects plants, right? If you need to ripen fruit evenly, you can also choose to ripen them with ethylene gas.
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