Question

Collect information about artificial ripening of fruits by ethylene.

Answer 1

Hint: Artificial ripening is done to achieve faster and more uniform ripening characteristics. However, ripening in general is a physiological process which makes the fruit edible, palatable and nutritious.

Complete step by step answer:
> Let us see how ethylene is used in ripening of artificial fruits.
Most fruits produce a gaseous compound called ethylene that starts the ripening process.
In artificial ripening, this process is mimicked using chemicals. The most commonly used chemical is called ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid). It penetrates into the fruit and decomposes ethylene.
> Let us try to understand this process in detail.
1) Ethylene: A very small concentration of ethylene in air is sufficient to promote the fruit ripening process. Externally applied Ethylene is likely to trigger or initiate the natural ripening process of apple, avocado, banana, mango, papaya, pineapple etc.
2) Ethephon: Ethephon is another agent which is used to artificially ripen fruits. Ethephon is often considered better in terms of taking less time than calcium carbide for ripening. The fruits ripened with Ethephon have more acceptable color than naturally ripened fruits and have longer shelf life than fruits ripened with Calcium carbide.
Ripening of fruits with Ethylene and Ethephon is permissible if used in a limited concentration. Many countries including India have allowed the use of Ethylene and Ethephon for ripening of fruits as it is less harmful if compared with Calcium carbide.

Note: Pouches of calcium carbide are placed with mangoes. When this chemical comes in contact with moisture, acetylene gas is produced, the effects of which are similar to ethylene, the one that is naturally used for the fruit ripening process.