Question

The gas used for artificial ripening of green fruit is:

• A. Ethylene
• B. Ethane
• C. Carbon dioxide
• D. Acetylene

Hint:

Ethylene is the natural plant hormone gas that ripens fruit.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Recall the plant hormone gas responsible for ripening.
Ethylene, \(C_2H_4\), is a natural plant hormone gas. It triggers ripening by activating enzymes that break down chlorophyll, soften the cell wall and convert starches to sugars in fruit.

Step 2: Match with commercial practice.
Fruit sellers and warehouses use ethylene gas, or ethylene releasing chemicals, to speed up ripening of fruits like bananas, mangoes and tomatoes that were picked while still green.

So option A, Ethylene, is correct.

Why the others are wrong: Ethane (option B) is chemically similar looking in name but it is an inert saturated hydrocarbon, it plays no role in ripening. Carbon dioxide (option C) is actually used to slow down ripening and extend shelf life during storage, the opposite effect. Acetylene (option D) was used in older, unsafe practices as a crude substitute because it decomposes to release traces of ethylene like compounds, but it is not the standard ripening agent and is unsafe due to impurities like arsenic and phosphorus compounds.