BRAINCAKEApical Dominance
Apical dominance is the inhibition of the growth of lateral (side) buds by the apical bud at the tip of the shoot. While the apical bud is present, the shoot grows mainly upwards and the lateral buds lower down stay dormant. This helps the plant grow tall quickly towards the light.
Apical dominance is caused mainly by auxin produced in the apical bud and transported down the stem.
Evidence from experiments
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Key terms in this lesson
- abscisic acid
- A plant growth regulator that maintains seed dormancy and closes stomata in drought, opposing the effect of gibberellin.
More in Chemical Control
- How Auxins Work
- Gibberellins
- Cytokinins
- Synergy and Antagonism
- Sensory Systems in Plants
- Phytochromes
- Photoperiodism
- Long Day Plants
All 30 lessons in Chemical Control · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics