The Ethylene Gas Impact
Page courtesy of Ethylene Control, Inc.
Ethylene production and sensitivity levels of selected fresh produce, flowers and nursery stock.
Fruits &
Vegetables
Types
Apples
Apricots
Asian
Pears
Asparagus
Avocados
Bananas
Berries
Broccoli
Brussel
Sprouts
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Cherimoya
Cherries
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Grapes
Kiwifruit
Lemons,
Limes
Lettuce (*2)
Mangoes
Melons
(*3)
Nectarines
Onions, Garlic
Oranges
Papaya
Passion
Fruit
Peaches
Pears (*5)
Persimmons
Plums, Prunes
Potatoes (*6)
Quinces
Tomatoes
Watermelons
Floral
& Nursery Commodities
Carnations -Cut
Roses
-Cut
Flower Bulbs
Nursery Stock
Rate of Ethylene Production
VH
H
H
VL
H
M
L
VL
VL
H
VL
VH
VL
L
L
VL
VL
L
VL
VL
M
M
H
VL
VL
H
VH
H
H
L
M
VL
L
M
L
VL
VL
VL
VL
Level of Ethylene Sensitivity
H
H
H
M
H
H
L
H
H
M
L
H
L
H
M-H
M
L
H
M
H
H
H
H
L
M
H
H
H
H
H
H
M
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
Principal reaction to Ethylene Gas
Scald
(*1)
Decay
Decay
Toughness
Decay
Decay
Mold
Yellowing
Yellowing
Decay
Bitterness
Decay
Softening
Yellowing
Brown
Spots
Mold
Mold
Decay
Mold
Russet
spotting
Decay
Decay
Decay
Odor, sprouting
Mold
(*4)
Decay
Decay
Decay
Decay
Decay
Decay
Sprouting
Decay
Shrink,
decay
Lose firmness
Sleepiness (*7)
Prem.
opening
Shrink (*8)
Slower start
VL = Very low, L = Low, M = Moderate, H =
High, VH = Very High
*1. Lose crunch
*2. Leafy
greens
*3. Crenshaw, Honeydew, Persian
*4. Rind
breakdown
*5. Anjou, Bartlett, Bosc
*6. Processing,
Seed
*7. Leaf curl
*8. Retards flower formation
*
Source: Fresh Produce Manual for 1997 from the Produce
Marketing Association and the 1991 Sea Land Shipping Guide for
Perishables. This is only a partial list. For more
information on specific commodities and about the impact of
ethylene under various storage conditions you may check the
University
of California-Davis index or the Sydney
Post Harvest Laboratory website. Although these sites are
oriented to the produce packers and shippers, the information is
valid for the home, as well.
