Ethylene gas

Ethylene gas

Question: How can ethylene gas to make the fruit becomes ripe faster?

Ethylene is a colorless liquid, viscous and sweet, easily soluble in water, has a relatively high boiling point and low freezing point. These compounds are commonly used as a solvent and material softener (softener). In agriculture ethylene is used as an astringent fruit cooking. Ethylene is a growth hormone which is generally different from auxin, and cytokinin griberelin. Under normal circumstances, a gaseous ethylene and its chemical structure is very simple. Ethylene in nature will take effect if the physiological changes in the plant. This hormone plays a role in fruit ripening phase klimaterik.

The process of protein synthesis occurs in the natural maturation process or hormonal, in which proteins are synthesized as soon as the process of maturation. Fruit ripening and inhibited by protein synthesis in the early phase siklohexamin klimatoris after siklohexamin missing, then the synthesis of ethylene not have problems. Synthesis of ribonucleic also required in the process of maturation. Ethylene enhances the synthesis of RNA in green fruit.

Ethylene can also be formed by the activity of auxin and ethylene able to eliminate the activity of auxin as ethylene can damage cell polarity transport, on condition of formation of ethylene anearob hampered, in addition to O2 temperature also affects the formation of ethylene. Ethylene formation rate decreases at temperatures above 30 ⁰ C and stopped at a temperature of 40 ⁰ C, so that the mass storage of the fruit with anaerobic conditions would stimulate the formation of ethylene by the fruit. Ethylene produced by the cumulative effect of each fruit and fruit stimulate others to mature faster.

Fruit based content amilumnya, divided into fruit and fruit klimaterik nonklimaterik. Klimaterik fruit is a fruit that contains a lot of starch, such as banana, mango, apple and avocado ripeness can be stimulated by ethylene. Endogenous ethylene produced by the fruit that has been cooked by itself can stimulate the maturation of the fruit bunch brooded. The fruit is a fruit that contains nonklimaterik amilumnya few, such as oranges, grapes, watermelon and pineapple. Provision of ethylene on the type of fruit can stimulate respiration rate, but can not stimulate endogenous ethylene production and ripening fruit. According Hadiwiyoto (1981), endogenous ethylene is produced by ethylene gas yag ripe fruit by itself can trigger other nearby fruit ripening

Klimaterik and fruit ripening process due to chemical changes in the activity of the enzyme pyruvate dekanoksilase causing keanaikan amount of acetaldehyde and ethanol that increased CO2 production. Ethylene produced in ripening fruit will increase respirasinya process. Stage where the fruit is still in good condition, namely that most of the contents of the cell consists of vacuoles.

Physiological changes that occur during the process of maturation is the process of respiration kliamterik, allegedly in the process of ripening by ethylene affects respiration klimaterik in two ways, namely:

1. Ethylene affects membrane permeability, cell permeability becomes so great, that resulted in the softening process that accelerated respiration metabolism.
2. During klimaterik, increased protein content and is believed to stimulate protein synthesis of ethylene over at that point. Protein that forms will be seen in the maturation process and the process klimaterik enzymes increased respiration.

Ethylene affects fruit ripening by encouraging hoarding flour and sugar solution.

Activity of ethylene in fruit ripening substances will decrease with decreasing temperature, eg tomatoes and bananas are stored in sealed LDPE packaging, the use of high concentrations of ethylene with a clear no effect either on the maturation and respiration. Availability ethylene (carbide) will increase the rate of respiration in fruits. But the presence of ethylene absorbent (KMnO4), the respiration activity will be reduced. Retention also affect respiration. The longer it is stored the fruit respiration to continue

Potassium permanganate oxidizes ethylene to ethanol and acetate, and in the process changes the color of KMnO4 purple to brown to indicate the absorption of ethylene. In its application, KMnO4 should not be directly in contact with food because KMnO4 are toxic. Potassium permanganate is often used to manipulate atmospheric conditions as absorbing ethylene gas and CO2 produced from ethylene gas absorption process by potassium permanganate can prevent or delay the effect of ethylene on commodities (Yang, 1985).

 
What is Calcium Carbide (Carbide)?

Calcium carbide or carbide is a chemical compound with chemical formula CaC2. Carbide used in the welding carbide and also to accelerate the maturation of the fruit.

Equation for Calcium Carbide with water is

CaC2 + 2 H2O → C2H2 + Ca (OH) 2

Therefore 1 gram CaC2 produces 349ml acetylene . In the process of carbide welding, acetylene is then burned to generate the heat required in welding. (Wikipedia)

 
Why Fruits Ripe Faster When Inserted into the paper bag?

 
When the fruits are picked or when the weather gave the signal to begin the process of fruit ripening, the fruit will release ethylene gas. This gas causes the cells of fruit to make all the changes involved with the process of maturation. Such changes include chlorophyll is broken down, causing discoloration, altered starch into sugar and make sweet fruit, causing the fruit acid extract did not feel sour, and dipecahnya pectin that makes fruit softer.

Paper bags are used because it is very good in trapping the ethylene gas. Put the fruit in a paper bag closed with a tight enough will trap the ethylene gas, which can speed up the ripening of the fruit. But do not close the bag too tightly or use a plastic bag, as it will only make the fruit becomes too moist, so the fungus can come to grow. If you really want to ripen fruit quickly, put the fruit you want matangkan in a paper bag with an apple or a banana that has been cooked, as bananas and apples produce more ethylene gas than other fruit.

 
Can the capacity, Fruit by Using Carbide?
 

Carbide can also be used to ripen fruit. Because carbide reacts with water will produce acetylene gas, which can also speed up the process of artificial ripening. However, the use of carbide often leave traces of arsenic and phosphorus which makes it hazardous to human health. So the use of calcium carbide to ripen fruits purposes is illegal in most countries.