BIOMOLECULES AND ENZYMES

Detailed explanation-1: -Ethylene plays a vital role in the natural ripening of fruits. It is a hormone produced naturally within the fruits to stimulate ripening process. Ethylene, being a natural hormone, does not pose any health hazards to consumers, the guidance note points out.

Detailed explanation-2: -This increase in ethylene concentration triggers an increase in the fruit’s metabolism and causes the changes to the fruit that occur during ripening. Ripening of climacteric fruits can, therefore, be slowed down by reducing the amount of ethylene the fruits make or by blocking ethylene’s actions [5].

Detailed explanation-3: -Fruit ripening is a highly coordinated developmental process that coincides with seed maturation. The ripening process is regulated by thousands of genes that control progressive softening and/or lignification of pericarp layers, accumulation of sugars, acids, pigments, and release of volatiles.