Here we are going to discuss “Ethylene: Overview, Discovery, Types of Ethylene, Bioassay & Functions” There are 5 plant Hormones, Ethylenes is one of them. Ethylene is an only plant hormone which is found in gaseous form. Ethylene stimulates transverse growth in plants. Ethylene retards the longitudinal growth of plants. Ethylene hormone is well known for fruit ripening. Growth and its ripening in plants.
Discovery of Ethylene
The effect of Ethylene hormone in plants had been known for a long time. Kerosene lamps and hay have been used by fruit merchants to hasten colour development in fruits. Colour development is the ripening of fruits. Effects in the fruits are due to ethylene hormone. In 1901 Neljubow observed that ethylene gas alter the Tropic responses of roots. Ethylene induces ripening of fruits which was first reported by Denny in 1924. Ethylene Identified as gaseous plant hormone by Crocker in by 1935.
Bioassay of Ethylene plant hormone
Bioassay is the testing of biological activity of a substance by using any living material or organism. Bioassay of Ethylene is done on the etiolated seedling of the pea plant. It is based on the principle of triple response which includes three characteristics effects of Ethylene.
- Swelling of nodes
- Inhibition of elongation of internodes of the stems of plants
- Introduction of horizontal growth of stem against Gravity
Functions of Ethylene plant hormone
1. Fruit growth and ripening-
fruit growth and ripening are is the responsibility of Ethylene plant hormone. Nowadays ethylene is used in the artificial ripening of climatic fruits such as banana mango Apple etc. Ethylene and carbon dioxide combination promotes fruit ripening. The suitable combination of ethylene and carbon dioxide is 80%:20% in the atmosphere.
2. Transverse growth-
Ethylene plant hormone stimulates transfers growth but inhibits longitudinal growth that’s why the stem looks swollen.
3. Leaf bending or Epinasty –
leaf bending is also called epinasty. Leaf bending represents more growth on the upper surface of the leaf as compared to the lower surface. Ethnicity is controlled by ethylene in many plants.
4. Abscission-
Abscission is the process of Premature falling of leaves, flowers and fruits. Premature following is not good for any plant. Generally, it promotes by the plant hormone Abscisic Acid. But it may be the result of an imbalance in the physiological process. Abscission zones are also stimulated by ethylene in the leaves, flowers and fruits.
5. Apical dominance-
apical dominance is the growth of terminal bud of a stem. In the case of apical dominance, the lateral axillary bud growth is inhibited. Ethylene also supports apical dominance and inhibits the growth of lateral buds. It is observed in pea plants.
6. Root initiation-
If we use ethylene in low concentration, it stimulates root initiation in the stem. Ethylenes also promotes the growth of lateral roots and root hairs.
7. Flowering
Flowering is stimulated by ethylene in pineapple and related plants. Though, in other cases, it has been observed that the hormone cause is fading of flowers. Feeding flowers of the vanda are known to release ethylene plant hormone.
8. Sex Expression-
The uses of plant hormone increase the number of female flowers and fruits in cucumber plants. We can say that ethylene plant hormone support femaleness in cucumber plants.
9. Dormancy-
This is the state of any living thing, in which their physical functions suspended or slowed down for a period of time. In simple words, we can use a deep slip of any living thing. In the case of plants, dormancy occurs in seeds and in buds. Ethylene breaks the dormancy of different plant organs. But it cannot break the dormancy of lateral buds.
Important Points Related to Ethylenes
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