A truck driver is transporting a load of unripened bananas in an air-tight vehicle, and decides to stop and eat an apple after checking on his cargo. He opens the back of his truck and, while walking around the unripened bananas, he decides the apple is overripe and drops it. When the bananas are finally delivered days later, he is surprised to find that all of his bananas have ripened. Why?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the truck driver dropped the overripe apple while walking around the bananas, it released ethylene gas which triggered the ripening of the bananas. Ethylene is a naturally occurring plant hormone that causes fruits to ripen. Once the process begins, it is self-sustaining and will continue even in an air-tight environment.

A Truck Driver Is Transporting a Load of Unripened Bananas