Ethylene in Plant Biology and Agricultural Production

Ethylene is a crucial plant hormone in agriculture, playing a significant role in various physiological processes. It regulates fruit ripening, ensuring that crops reach market readiness uniformly. This control over ripening enhances storage and transportation, reducing post-harvest losses. Ethylene also influences flower senescence and leaf abscission, which are essential for optimizing harvest timing and crop quality. Additionally, it promotes root growth and seed germination, aiding in plant development and stress responses. Ethylene's role in modulating responses to environmental stress, such as drought and salinity, helps improve crop resilience. In modern agriculture, ethylene management, through inhibitors or synthetic analogs, is employed to synchronize ripening, extend shelf life, and improve crop yields, making it a pivotal tool for enhancing productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector. This book brings forth some of the most innovative concepts and elucidates the unexplored aspects of plant hormones. It consists of contributions made by international experts on ethylene in plant biology and agricultural production. It is a complete source of knowledge on the present status of this important subject.