Этефон

Description

Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) is a plant growth regulator, the action of which is based on the release of ethylene, a natural plant hormone. After penetration into plant tissue, ethephon decomposes at tissue pH above 4 to form ethylene, phosphoric acid and chloride ion; the released ethylene triggers physiological reactions characteristic of this phytohormone: acceleration of fruit ripening, stimulation of leaf and ovary fall, regulation of plant height and branching.

Basic Attributes

• CAS No.: 16672-87-0
• Chemical formula: C2H6ClO3P
• English name: Ethephon
• Class: plant growth regulator, ethylene donor

Mechanism of action

Ethephon is a highly water-soluble compound that easily penetrates plant tissue when sprayed. A key feature of the mechanism is the pH-dependent decomposition of the molecule: at the acidic pH of cell sap (below 4), ethephon is stable, and as it penetrates into tissues with a higher pH, it decomposes to release ethylene. This dependence on pH makes the drug a systemic regulator of delayed action - the effect does not appear immediately after spraying, but as the active substance is metabolized inside the plant.

Scope of application

Ethephon is widely used in vegetable and fruit growing to accelerate and even out the ripening of crops - this increases the commercial quality of the fruit and simplifies the organization of one-time harvesting. Used on tomatoes, apple trees, cherries, citrus fruits, grapes and other fruit and vegetable crops. In cotton growing it is used as a defoliant, facilitating machine harvesting. On ornamental and grain crops it is used to regulate plant height and prevent lodging by shortening internodes. In sugarcane, ethephon is used to stimulate ripening before harvesting.

Safety Information

There is no dump data for this product - the original echemi dump is empty. Numerical values ​​of physicochemical characteristics (density, melting and boiling points, solubility, vapor pressure), LD50 acute toxicity indicators and UN transport codes are not given in this description, since these data are not collected from a verified source; indicating estimated values ​​by analogy with similar growth regulators is not permitted by the requirements for the reliability of the product card.

Storage and transportation conditions

Store in the original sealed container in a cool, dry place, away from alkaline substances - contact with alkalis accelerates the decomposition of the active substance with the release of ethylene while still in the container. When working with the concentrate, use standard personal protective equipment when handling plant growth regulators: gloves, safety glasses, overalls. The exact transport classification codes and hazard categories for a specific batch should be clarified using the manufacturer's safety data sheet, since this information is not included in the submitted dump.