Abstract: Hapten and antigen designed for eliciting catalytic antibodies effective in inhibiting the ethylene production pathway in plants by deactivating a precursor thereof either by decomposition or derivatization. Catalytic antibodies effective in inhibiting the ethylene production pathway in plants by deactivating a precursor thereof. Genes encoding for such catalytic antibodies and plants and cells expressing these genes and producing the catalytic antibodies for controlling the ripening of fruits and vegetables, as well as for controlling senescence of plant tissue.