A method for delaying a plant development process associated with ethylene biosynthesis that comprises exposing a plant to one or more bacteria selected from the group consisting of Rhodococcus spp., Brevibacterium ketoglutamicum and mixtures thereof. Also described is an apparatus for performing the above method, having a catalyst that comprises one or more of the bacteria. The delayed plant development process can be fruit ripening, flower senescence, wilting abscission or petal closure.