Step 1: Concept
Phytohormones and their functions in plants
Step 2: Meaning
Ethylene is a type of phytohormone with multiple roles in plant growth and development.
Step 3: Analysis
Option A (Known as fruit ripening hormone) - True, ethylene is known to promote fruit ripening.
Option B (Causes leaf epinasty in tomato, potato and pea) - False, this effect is associated with auxins, not ethylene.
Option C (Induces flowering in pineapple and mango) - False, gibberellins are primarily responsible for inducing flowering.
Option D (Promotes formation of male flowers and suppresses the number of female flowers considerably) - True, ethylene plays a role in sex expression during flower development.
Option E (Promotes abscission of leaves in plants) - True, ethylene is involved in leaf drop.
Step 4: Conclusion
The correct options are A, B, C, and E with the exception that B is false. Therefore, the accurate combination should include A, D, and E.
Final Answer: (D)