26.2 ethen and abscisic acid (ABA) Flashcards
1
Q
uses of ethene
A
- it functions as a plant growth regulator
- helps with ripening, ageing and deterioration of fruits
2
Q
two categories of fruits ripening
A
- climacteric
- non-climacteric
3
Q
climacteric fruits
A
- ripen after harvest
- can be picked unripe and then will ripen artificially by exposure to ethene
4
Q
examples of climacteric fruits
A
- bananas
- apples
- tomatoes
- avocados
5
Q
non-climacteric fruits
A
- do not ripen after harvest
6
Q
examples of non-climacteric fruits
A
- grapes
- strawberries
- cherries
- cashews
7
Q
characteristics of unripe fruit
A
- green
- hard
- sour, acidic or bitter to taste
8
Q
process of using ethene to ripen climacteric fruits
A
1) ethene upregulates (switches on) genes for the enzymes:
- hydrolases
- pectinases
- amylases
9
Q
what is hydrolase responsible for
A
- changing the colour
- hydrolyse chlorophyll to different pigments
10
Q
what is pectinase responsible for
A
- softening the fruit
11
Q
what is amylase responsible for
A
- increasing sugar content by breaking complex carbohydrates to simple sugars
