Phospholipids and lysophospholipids have been reported as potential growth regulators The application of lysophospholipids such as LPE can also promote ripening and accelerate ripening-related changes. For example, pre-harvest treatment with LPE enhanced the color of cranberry, apple, red pepper, table grape and tomato fruit . LPE treatment allowed normal ripening of tomato fruit while maintaining fruit firmness and increasing shelf life of the fruit while retarding fruit and leaf senescence This improvement in shelf life and reduced senescence of leaf tissue was accompanied with reduced ion leakage from these tissues. The exact mechanism by which LPE delays senescence and improves shelf life is not known. However, LPE has been found to inhibit the activity of phospholipase D (PLD), in a highly specific manner. PLD is known to be activated during ethylene induced senescence and this activation leads to membrane breakdown. It thus appears that LPE may be enhancing shelf life by preserving membrane health during senescence and aging of fruit