Apical dominance

Apical dominance is a central concept in Botany and Plant Physiology, referring to the control exerted by the terminal bud (apex) over the outgrowth of lateral buds.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈæpɪkəl ˈdɒmɪnəns/

Etymology

The term "apical dominance" is derived from the Latin words "apex", which means "tip", and "dominant", which means "ruling".

Definition

Apical dominance is a growth phenomenon in plants where the main, central stem of the plant is dominant over (i.e., grows more strongly than) other side stems; on a branch the main stem of the branch is further dominant over its own side twigs.

Mechanism

The mechanism of apical dominance is based on Auxins, a class of plant hormones produced in the apical meristem (tip) and transported towards the roots. These hormones suppress the growth of lateral buds, thus ensuring that resources are primarily allocated to the growth and development of the main stem.

Related Terms

• Auxin
• Meristem
• Plant Hormones
• Lateral Bud
• Terminal Bud

See Also

• Decapitation (botany)
• Cytokinin
• Gibberellin

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Apical dominance
• Wikipedia's article - Apical dominance

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