Explain the physiological effects of ethylene.

Explanation

Ethylene stimulates respiration and ripening in fruits.
It stimulates radial growth in stem and root and inhibits linear growth.
It breaks the dormancy of buds, seeds and storage organs.
It stimulates formation of abscission zone in leaves, flowers and fruits. This makes the leaves to shed prematurely.
Inhibition of stem elongation (shortening the internode).
In low concentration, ethylene helps in root initiation.
Growth of lateral roots and root hairs. This increases the absorption surface of the plant roots.
The growth of fruits is stimulated by ethylene in some plants. It is more marked in climacteric fruits.
Ethylene causes epinasty.