Ethylene

Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that occurs in gaseous form. It is responsible for initiating and regulating the fruit ripening process. Tomatoes are climacteric fruits, which means that once they reach physiological maturity, they can continue to ripen even after harvest. Excessively high ethylene concentrations accelerate ripening but also shorten the fruit’s postharvest shelf life. This phenomenon is utilized during the storage and transport of tomatoes. To slow down the ripening of the harvest, ripe and damaged fruits should be regularly separated from the rest.