Research has been done on ethylene absorbers for apples, and a number of strategies have been tested, with some success.

We know that many products are sensitive to ethylene in the storage environment, and the negative effects of ethylene exposure include accelerated ripening, increased susceptibility to disease, acc

Watermelons, at least the traditional varieties, are not very susceptible to ethylene damage.  Our webpage “Produce Facts: Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality of Watermelon” in

Following is a link to a publication that includes data on the effects of ethylene on Botrytis-caused decay development on strawberries: http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/datastore/234-1927.pdf 

Some of the changes associated with banana are controlled by ethylene action while other changes are not controlled by ethylene action. In contrast, all changes are controlled by temperature.

As you indicated, the ethylene level in the home refrigerator will depend on the quantity of ethylene-producing fruits (apples, pears, peaches, etc.) that are kept in the crisper.

The USDA provides a summary table of respiration rates of fruits and vegetables in the the USDA Handbook 66.

–Adel Kader

Yes, hydrocarbons such as from exhaust fumes or in this case "burned lubricating oil" can and will mimic the effects of the plant ripening hormone ethylene, which is, in and of itself, a

The logic for the delayed harvest is that less mature fruit (earlier harvested) are generally more susceptible to bitter pit.

I don't believe that ethylene chlorohydrin would be an efficient substrate for producing ethylene. I'm not an organic chemist, so I may be in error.