apical dominance
The ability of the apical meristem to produce hormones to prevent side shoots or buds from developing while it is growing.
GardenWeb Glossary of Botanical Terms
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apical dominance. Growth of the bud at the apex of a stem or tuber while growth of all other buds on the stem or tuber is inhibited.
Apical dominance - A phenomenon whereby a plant's growth is concentrated on the terminal bud, allowing it to grow taller, thereby increasing its exposure to sunlight.
apical dominance The inhibition of lateral bud growth by the presence of the hormone auxin in a plant's terminal bud. Removing the growing tip removes auxin and promotes lateral bud break and subsequent branching, usually directly below the cut.
The potency of apical dominance not only varies from one species to another but is influenced by orientation: Lateral buds on horizontal branches are less restrained by the apical bud, while lateral buds on vertical growth are strongly suppressed.
The bud at the tip of every branch is the dominant bud, having what is referred to as 'apical dominance.' As long as a branch remains intact, the apical bud will grow steadily in a single burst.
In the woody ornamentals class, we learned about apical dominance (how the terminal bud of a shoot inhibits the growth of side buds), the significance of good drainage, and proper pH levels.
 See also: Apical, Dominance, Shoot, Produce, Plant
  
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