The present invention relates to a SP3D promotor sequence, capable of directing transcription of a downstream SP3D
gene that is operably linked to said promotor sequence, wherein the promotor sequence is derived from a species of the
Solanaceae family having a sympodial index of 2, for reducing sympodial index in plants having a sympodial index of 3 or more. The invention also relates to methods for providing plants of the
Solanaceae family, in particular S. lycopersicum, having a reduced sympodial index comprising of introducing into the
genome of said plants a promotor sequence according to any of the claims 1-8 in operable linkage with a downstream SP3D
gene, or introducing into said plants a
gene construct according to any of the claims 9 to 15, such that the sympodial index of the
plant with the promotor sequence or gene construct is reduced as compared to the
plant without said promotor sequence or gene construct, and to plants obtainable by said methods.