ethylene
n. C1 Advanced US //ˈɛθəˌɫin// UK //ˈɛθɪlˌiːn// eth·yl·ene
n. a natural gas that plants use to control their growth and ripening. It also makes fruits like apples and bananas get soft and sweet.
n. a simple gaseous hydrocarbon that functions as a plant hormone, regulating various developmental processes including fruit ripening and leaf senescence.
Ethylene causes the fruit to ripen faster.
Farmers often use ethylene to speed up the ripening of bananas before they are shipped to the market.
The release of ethylene by ripening fruit can trigger a chain reaction in nearby produce, leading to a rapid and uniform softening of the entire harvest.
From eth- + -ylene.