What is the connection between ethylene gas and bacteria in rotten fruit?

Answer 1

Ethylene gas in Biology, is known as a hormone. Hormones, as they do in humans, cause growth. Producers of produce use a process that they "gas blast" the fruit or veggies to have them mature faster so they can go to resale faster. Produce that is exposed to ethylene gas isn't as flavorful, but they do make a quick alternative to slow ripening.

According to the infomercial I just saw, Ethylene gas causes fruit to spoil faster...

It directly impacts the ripening process. Commercial growers/shippers use the concentration of the gas (either keeep it low to inhibit ripening, or increase it to increase ripening). many fruits will release ethelene gas as they ripen, for example bananas, and other fruit may react to it by ripening faster. fruit that reactes to external ethelene gas are called climactric fruit.

--This is not necessarily the whole truth. Ethylene gas does not take away flavor, but actually adds flavor by breaking down starch into sugar using the enzyme alpha-amylase. This is the reason why produce markets use ethylene to ripen fruit when they arrive so the fruit can obtain their flavor when they hit the shelves. If ripening occurs naturally, fruits would sit on the shelf longer, and in the business world that hurts the inventory turnover rate. You're really going to listen to what an infomercial has to say? Ethylene causes fruit to RIPEN faster, spoiling occurs at the end of the ripening process.

..So, how is the food value of fruit that is 'gas blasted' effected?

Answer 2

The biosynthesis of ethylene starts with conversion of the amino acidmethionine to S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM, also called Adomet) by the enzyme Met Adenosyltransferase. SAM is then converted to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid (ACC) by the enzyme ACC synthase (ACS); the activity of ACS dertermines the rate of ethylene production, therefore regulation of this enzyme is key for the ethylene biosynthesis. The final step requires oxygen and involves the action of the enzyme ACC-oxidase (ACO), formerly known as the Ethylene Forming Enzyme (EFE).

Source: wikipedia

Answer 3

it helps by exploding bacteria off its cells, thus creating its gentic cell speed up

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Ethylene gas is used by plants as a growth regulator. Ethylene gas is associated with seed germination, fruit ripening and fall of leaves. Thus, fruits are provided ethylene gas which speeds up the genetic growth of the cells in it.

Answer 4

Ethylene serves generally as a growth stimulating hormone in plants. It acts at trace levels throughout the life of the plant by stimulating or regulating the ripening of fruit and many other processes. At ripening bacteria come in.

Answer 5

yes they do. they naturally emit ethylene which is how they ripen. A few apples will not be harmful to people, but will cause other fruits nearby to ripen faster and speed up spoiling.

Answer 6

Bananas for one.

Answer 7

ethylene gas

Answer 8

bananas