Ethephon is a plant growth regulator used to promote fruit ripening, abscission, flower induction, and other responses. Ethephon is registered for use on a number of food, feed and nonfood crops, greenhouse nursery stock, and outdoor residential ornamental plants, but is used primarily on cotton.

What are side effects of ethephon?

[16] Toxic effects of ethephon reported in human adults till date are salivation, lacrimation, diarrhea, urgency of bowel movement, stomach cramps, increased urgency, and frequency of urination with decreased appetite with inhibition of plasma cholinesterase activity.

How does ethephon break down?

Ethephon breaks down into ethylene quicker as pH increases. This means the goal is to keep the pH of the spray solution after adding ethephon to your carrier water within the recommended range of 4 to 5. This is normally not a problem because ethephon is naturally acidic.