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Plant geneticists have identified a mutation in a gene that causes the “weeping” architecture – branches growing downwards – in apple trees, a finding that could improve orchard fruit production.For more than a century, growers have tied down apple branches when trees are young, in order to improve crop productivity. More research is needed to understand the mechanism for why branch bending improves yields, but studies have shown that the practice helps apple trees allocate more resources such as carbon and other nutrients toward reproductive growth (flowering and fruiting) than toward vegetative growth (branches and leaves).In rare cases, trees are known to naturally grow downwards.The new study, published early release on July 3 in the journal Plant Physiology, identified a variation, or allele, of MdLAZY1A – a gene that largely controls weeping growth in apple.

William watsonRobert thompsonKenong xuCollege of agricultureLife sciencesPlant physiologyIntegrative plant science horticulture sectionCornell agritech