UMEA, Sweden – Swedish researchers say they have discovered an important gene that controls tree growth and development.
Scientists at the Ume? Plant Science Center and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences say they have demonstrated how the growth and development of forest trees is controlled.
The scientists say they have found that the FT gene that was previously shown to control the flowering time of annual plants, also controls tree flowering.

The scientists also say they have discovered the same gene not only controls the flowering time of trees, but also the timing of when the trees stop growing and set bud in the fall.
Researchers said finding -- that the same gene was involved in all the processes -- was highly unexpected.
The Swedish researchers say their discovery might revolutionize forest tree breeding and can lead to the development of new tree seedlings with a dramatically improved growth and also "tailor made" quality parameters.
The findings are published in the international journal Science.