Ethylene (C2H4) is a gaseous hormone which is mainly involved in the fruit ripening process. The major physiological effects of ethylene are:
Ethylene promotes rapid internode/petiole elongation in deep water rice plants.
Ethylene also promotes root growth and root hair formation, thus helping the plants to increase their absorption surface.
Ethylene breaks seed and bud dormancy, initiates germination in peanut seeds, sprouting of potato tubers.