Table 1.

Physiological effects of exogenous ethylene on fruit and vegetables as dependent on their climacteric classification [10].

physiological parameter	climacteric fruit	non-climacteric fruit
ethylene synthesis	enhanced	no effect
autocatalytic ethylene	enhanced	no effect
fruit metabolism and respiration	enhanced	no effect
fruit ripening	enhanced	no effect
loss of green skin colour	negligible effect	often enhanced
decay microorganisms	no clear effect	often enhanced
induction of disorders or chilling injury	possible	possible