This papaya tree in Laguna has become popular due to its multiple stems

A papaya tree in Los Baños, Laguna has become popular in its neighborhood for having multiple stems.

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Tuesday, papaya trees commonly have only one stem and grow up to five to 10 meters.

But the tree in Los Baños impressively grew multiple stems.

"Usually po, 'yung normal na papaya, isang straight lang po siya 'di ba? Pero dito po, ang dami niyang sanga," said Rafa Garcia, who uploaded a video of the papaya tree online. "Kahit maliliit pa lang po 'yung branch niya, marami po siyang bunga."

Shirley Diongco, the woman who planted the papaya tree, said that it used to have only one stem.

"Nung una siyang tumubo, straight siya. Ang dami nang dumadayo, ninanakaw 'yung bunga. Ay ayun, pinutol siya. Nung pinutol siya, ayan nagsanga-sanga na siya," she said.

How did this happen? According to botanist Jayson Mansibang, papaya trees are classified as dicotyledons, which are capable of secondary growth.

When the papaya tree was cut, this led to the growing of multiple stems from the initial single sem.

"Kung ie-examine natin 'yung pinakatalbos, damaged 'yun," he said. "Kapag na-damage kasi 'yung pinakatalbos niya, magpo-produce siya ng mga stress or growth hormones, 'yun 'yung tinatawag na gibberellins. Gibberellin 'yung isa sa mga main factors nung pagmu-multi branch nung papaya. Natural lang 'yun, defense mechanism ng papaya."