Unlike fruits, many cut flowers are ethylene-sensitive, meaning that even low concentrations of ambient gas can cause bud drop, petal fading, and stem shortening. Ethylene is a simple gaseous molecule that acts as a crucial hormone in plants, orchestrating a wide array of developmental processes and stress responses.
Ethylene Effects On Plant Aging Senescence: The Hormone's Role in Aging and Senescence
Often referred to as the aging hormone, its influence extends from the ripening of fruit to the wilting of flowers and the shedding of leaves. This hormone triggers the climacteric rise in respiration that is associated with the softening of fruit, color change, and the development of flavor.
This "stress hormone" helps the plant adapt by promoting traits like stem elongation (epinasty) to escape submerged conditions or the closure of stomata to reduce water loss. Growers and florists utilize specialized ethylene inhibitors and blockers to extend the ornamental value of their products and maintain aesthetic appeal for as long as possible.
Ethylene Effects On Plant Aging Senescence
The Role in Fruit Ripening The most visible and economically significant effect of ethylene is its role in fruit ripening. Interaction with Other Hormones The effects of ethylene are rarely isolated; they exist in a delicate balance with other plant hormones such as auxins, gibberellins, and abscisic acid.
More About Effects of ethylene
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