Use of Ethylene As described by Abeles (1973), interest in ethylene dates back to at least 1864, when Girarden reported that gas from gas lamps caused injuries and defoliation of trees. In 1901, Neljubov identified ethylene as a component of the illuminating gas. Crocker and Knight reported in 1908 that ethylene and illurninating gas induced same physiological responses in flowers. In 1912, Sie...