The hormone responsible for ripening of fruits is

Correct option is A

Correct Answer: A. Ethylene

• Ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone that plays a major role in:

  • Fruit ripening

  • Leaf abscission

  • Flower wilting

• It accelerates the conversion of starches to sugars, softens tissues, and enhances color changes in fruits (e.g., from green to red or yellow).

• Cytokinin:

  • Promotes cell division, delays leaf senescence, and stimulates shoot formation.

• Auxin:

  • Regulates cell elongation, apical dominance, and root initiation.

• ABA (Abscisic Acid):

  • Involved in stress responses (e.g., drought), stomatal closure, and seed dormancy — not fruit ripening.

• Ethylene is widely used in agriculture to artificially ripen fruits like bananas, mangoes, and tomatoes.