Which Fruits and Vegetables Secrete Ethylene?

You’ve come to shop. You placed the fruits and vegetables you bought in the refrigerator. After a short while, you saw that some fruits and vegetables had matured well and even started to rot. Well, have you ever thought about why this is happening? Some fruits and vegetables should not be stored together because of the ethylene they secrete. This can cause rotting of fruits and vegetables. In my article, I would like to talk about ethylene producing fruits and vegetables in detail.

Metabolic activities continue after fruits and vegetables are harvested. In this process, some fruits and vegetables release ethylene. Ethylene is a gas released from fruits and vegetables. And it accelerates the ripening process in fruits and vegetables. In other words, ethylene is the growth hormone in fruits and vegetables.

Climacteric and non-climacteric fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are called climacteric (ethylene-secreting) and non-climacteric (non-ethylene-secreting) according to the changes in the ripening process. Climacteric ones continue to mature after being picked. Ethylene gas is effective in the ripening process. In non-climacteric ones, the respiratory rate decreases and maturation stops.

Which fruits and vegetables produce ethylene?

  • Apple
  • Kiwi
  • Pear
  • Banana
  • Avocado
  • Tomato
  • Plum

It is in the ethylene producing group. Fruits and vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, potatoes, grapes and strawberries are also in the group that does not produce ethylene. Ethylene producing and non-producing fruits and vegetables should not be stored together. Ethylene gas produced by climacteric fruits and vegetables may cause rapid ripening of other fruits and vegetables. It can even rot. For example, tomatoes and cucumbers should not be stored together. Many of us put these two together. However, ethylene gas from tomatoes causes cucumbers to deteriorate rapidly.

We can also benefit from the resulting ethylene hormone. For example, we can put an unripe banana together with an apple. In this way, the ethylene from the apple can ripen the banana quickly.

In conclusion, we must pay attention to the storage of fruits and vegetables. Otherwise, we may cause food waste.