Fig. 1

Phenotypic changes in wild-type (WT) and more-branching (MB) grafted apple (M. spectabilis) scions and M. robusta rootstock. a–b Branching phenotypes of WT and MB grafted scions at different growth stages (a, 25 days after scion bud germination [DAG]; b, 60 DAG); c–d Root phenotypes at the branching stage (60 and 225 DAG). e–g Comparison of branching number, root phenotypic parameters and root ratio. Data are means ± SE (n = 10). Root ratio was assessed by the relative proportion of LR number to total root weight. Significant differences (*P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01) are based on Student’s t-test. Scale bars = 2.0 cm (a), 5.0 cm (b), 10.0 cm (c) and 10.0 cm (d)