Abstract: Presented herein is 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. Also presented herein are methods for providing plants of the Solanaceae family, in particular S. lycopersicum, having a reduced sympodial index including the steps of introducing into the genome of said plants a promotor sequence in operable linkage with a downstream SP3D gene, or introducing into said plants a gene construct, 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.