(1) Ethylene promotes the ripening of fruits.
(2) Ethylene promotes the senescence and abscission of leaves and flowers.
(3) Ethylene breaks seed and bud dormancy, initiates germination in peanut seeds and sprouting of potato tubers.
(4) Ethylene promotes rapid internode/petiole elongation in deep water rice plants.
(5) It also promotes root growth and root hair formation, thus helping plants to increase their absorption surface.
(6) Ethylene is used to initiate flowering (mango) and for synchronising fruit set in pineapples.
(7) It promotes female flowers in cucumbers, thereby increasing the yield.
