Which one among the following nontoxic gases helps in forma- tion of enzymes which ripen fruit ?

Ethylene is the natural gaseous plant hormone that regulates fruit ripening by modulating gene expression and enzyme activity. However, in commercial practice, calcium carbide is frequently used as an artificial ripening agent. When calcium carbide reacts with moisture, it produces acetylene gas [3]. Acetylene acts as a synthetic analog of ethylene, mimicking its physiological functions to trigger the ripening process [3]. It stimulates the formation of enzymes that break down complex polysaccharides into simple sugars and soften the fruit's cell walls. While ethylene is the primary biological trigger, among the options provided, acetylene is the specific gas used to induce these enzymatic changes artificially [1]. Although often described as toxic due to impurities like arsenic in industrial grades, pure acetylene itself is a hydrocarbon used for this specific biochemical induction [3].

Sources

1. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripening
2. [3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300483X22000245
3. [2] https://fssai.gov.in/upload/uploadfiles/files/Guidance_Note_Ver2_Artificial_Ripening_Fruits_03_01_2019_Revised_10_02_2020.pdf