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Ethylene

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Ethylene, a volatile gas, triggers fruit ripening, leaf and flower abscission, and senescence, released more from aging or wounded tissue.

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Storing unripe avocados in a sealed bag traps the ethylene one ripening fruit releases, speeding up ripening in the rest.

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Ethylene's effect on nearby fruit works because it is a gas — sealing fruit away from ventilation concentrates rather than dilutes it.