11 August 2008

THE NETHERLANDS - Scientists at Wageningen University in the Netherlands have discovered a new plant hormone, strigolactone which regulates the number of branches that a plant produces.

The researchers say the discovery is of enormous economic and societal importance and is especially important to fruit, vegetable and flower growers.

Manipulating the hormone will allow farmers to regulate the number of branches that an individual plant produces and will increase both yield and quality. As it has already been shown that tomatoes ripen better on a plant with just a few branches, the discovery of strigolactone will help farmers ripen tomatoes faster.

The Netherlands is a world leader in innovations in plant reproduction and market garden techniques, and the sector is very important to the Dutch economy.

[Radio Netherlands / Expatica]

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