Question

Explain the physiological effect of Ethylene.

Answer 1

• Ethylene stimulates respiration and ripening in fruits.
• It stimulates radial growth in stem and root and inhibits linear growth.
• It breaks the dormancy of buds, seeds, and storage organiser.
• It stimulates the formation of the abscission zone in leaves, flowers, and fruits. This makes the leaves shed prematurely.
• Inhibition of stem elongation (shortening the internode).
• In low concentrations, ethylene helps in root initiation.
• Growth of lateral roots and root hairs. This increases the absorption surface of the plant roots.
• The growth of fruits is stimulated by ethylene in some plants. It is more marked in climacteric fruits.
• Ethylene causes epinasty.