Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Ethylene and Fruits 
Name: Devon
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
im a junior in high school and i have to do a research paper on the chemistry behind fruit ripening. all i seem to find is information on ethylene gas. my teacher whats to know the chemicals involved in fruit ripening and im not having much luck. do you think you could possibly help?


Replies:
You have found it! Ethylene plant hormone is the main agent!

A book on the subject:

Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene
A. K. Kanellis (Editor) C. Chang (Editor) D. Grierson (Editor) H. Kende (Editor)

This hormone is used in the produce industry to schedule the ripening of fruit so they are peaking when they make the shelves. The introduction of this hormone can make ripening occur earlier than normal.

http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/courses.hp/gen364/ag_22.html

Steve Sample


Click here to return to the Biology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory