Which plant hormone promotes fruit ripening and is a gaseous hormone active at low concentrations?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Ethylene is a unique gaseous plant hormone that accelerates fruit ripening, abscission, and cellular senescence across many horticultural crops. Other phytohormones like auxins and gibberellins regulate cell elongation and stem growth rather than acting as volatile ripening agents. Commercial storage facilities often use ethylene scrubbers to delay the ripening of perishable produce.