The role of ethylene in the regulation of fruit ripening in the hillawi date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L)

The role of ethylene in the regulation of fruit ripening in the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) was investigated. It was found that the rate of CO2 output was high initially, but the rate declined steadily as the fruit advanced in maturity, reaching its lowest level as the fruit entered the stage of physiological maturity, but then the rate of respiration increased as the fruit entered the ripening phase, reached a peak value and then declined. Ethylene emission was not detected until the 91st day from pollination when ethylene production began with a rapid increase in emission, reaching a peak value within 15 days and then declining rapidly. The peak of ethylene production preceded the climacteric peak by 7 days.