Which gas is known to cause cut flowers, vegetables, and some fruits to ripen prematurely?

Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that plays a crucial role in the ripening process of various fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers. It is a colorless gas produced by plants, especially during the ripening stage. Ethylene triggers the expression of genes associated with ripening, leading to changes in color, softening, flavor development, and aromatic compounds that characterize ripe produce. This means that when ethylene is present in larger concentrations, it can cause fruits and flowers that have not yet fully ripened to begin the ripening process prematurely.

This property of ethylene is widely utilized in agriculture and horticulture for managing the timing of ripening and enhancing post-harvest quality. For example, fruits such as bananas and tomatoes are often exposed to ethylene gas to accelerate their ripening for market readiness, while cut flowers are sometimes treated with ethylene inhibitors to prolong freshness.

In contrast, while oxygen is essential for respiration in plants and carbon dioxide plays a part in photosynthesis, neither directly induces ripening. Propylene, although it can influence certain plant processes, does not have the same well-known effect on ripening as ethylene does. Thus, ethylene is recognized as the primary gas responsible for causing premature ripening in a variety