Question

Should commercial fruit farmers be allowed to use ethylene to accelerate the ripening of fruit for the market? Why or Why not?

Answer 1

The commercial fruit farmers should not be allowed to use ethylene.

Though ethylene is a natural growth regulator in the plant, if it is not applied in limited quantity it produces adverse effects such as overly ripened fruits, yellowing of green fruits and fruit becoming excessive soft and loose to pre maturity. It leads to chlorophyll destruction and also inhibits vegetative tissue. It also inhibits auxin transport, flower development, shoot and root growth.

Answer 2

The answer is: NO

Accelerated ripening of fruits lowers the quality of the fruits because it circumvents the natural process of ripening. In some cases of accelerated ripening, one finds a premature fruits looking ripe. In other cases, it causes ununiform ripening and also causes hastened senescence reducing shelf life.