Chloroethylphosphonic acid

Chloroethylphosphonic acid, systematically (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid, is the chemical name for ethephon, a plant growth regulator that releases ethylene within plant tissues. Growers use it to promote uniform ripening of fruits, stimulate latex flow in rubber trees, and regulate flowering in crops such as pineapples. Because it is applied directly to food crops, residue limits govern its use, and applicators follow label rates and pre-harvest intervals so treated produce meets safety standards. Its ethylene-releasing action mimics the plant’s own ripening hormone, giving growers a predictable tool for harvest timing.