/oss/taxonomy/term/1434/all en /oss/article/general-science/rotten-apple-really-does-spoil-barrel <p>A rotten apple spoils the whole barrel. That’s not just an old adage. It’s a scientific fact. And it all has to do with ethylene, a gas produced internally by the fruit to stimulate ripening. Basically, ethylene is a plant hormone. Our word “hormone” derives from the Greek “hormon” meaning “to set in motion,” and that is just what ethylene does. It sets in motion a large number of enzymatic processes that are in general responsible for ripening.</p> Thu, 21 Oct 2021 18:26:55 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8905 at /oss