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Question 54 of 70

Q.Describe physiological effect and applications of gaseous hormone in plants.

Maharashtra MsbshseMaharashtra HSC (MSBSHSE) Board 2022Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Ethylene, the gaseous plant hormone, promotes fruit ripening (by triggering the climacteric rise in respiration, breakdown of chlorophyll and cell-wall softening), induces senescence and abscission of leaves/flowers/f...

Ethylene, the only gaseous plant hormone, drives fruit ripening and senescence and is exploited commercially in fruit and flower production.

Ethylene (C2H4) is unique among plant hormones in being a simple gas, produced particularly by ripening fruit, senescing tissues and tissues under stress or mechanical damage. Its main physiological effects include triggering the climacteric rise in respiration rate seen during fruit ripening, along with the associated breakdown of chlorophyll, softening of the cell wall (via cell-wall-degrading enzymes) and development of characteristic ripe colour, flavour and aroma. Ethylene also promotes senescence and abscission — the shedding of leaves, flowers and fruits — by stimulating the formation of an abscission layer. It can break dormancy in some seeds and buds, promotes epinasty (downward curvature of leaves due to faster growth on the upper surface), and produces the classic 'triple response' in etiolated seedlings exposed to ethylene: inhibition of stem elongation, radial thickening (swelling) of the stem, and a shift to horizontal growth. In some plants such as pineapple, ethylene also promotes and synchronises flowering. Commercially, ethylene (often applied as the liquid co …

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