Briefly describe two ways in which apical dominance can be suppressed in plants
1) Pruning: One way to suppress apical dominance in plants is by pruning the terminal or apical bud. By removing the dominant apical bud, the growth hormone auxin is no longer concentrated at the apex. This promotes the growth of lateral buds and branches, leading to a more bushy and compact growth habit.
2) Pinching: Pinching involves manually removing or pinching off the tips of young shoots or branches. This action also disrupts the concentration of auxin at the apex, inhibiting the dominance of the apical bud. Pinching encourages the growth of lateral buds and branches, resulting in a fuller and more balanced growth form.
Apical dominance is a phenomenon in plants whereby the growth of lateral buds is inhibited by the presence of an actively growing apical bud. However, there are two main ways in which apical dominance can be suppressed in plants:
1. Pruning: One effective method to suppress apical dominance is by pruning the apical bud. By removing the apical bud or cutting back the stem above it, the balance of plant hormones is disrupted, enabling the lateral buds to grow and develop. This allows for the stimulation of lateral branch growth, resulting in a bushier and fuller plant. Pruning can be done selectively, to redirect growth, or by complete removal of the apical bud, encouraging growth of multiple lateral shoots.
2. Application of plant hormones: Plant hormones, specifically auxins, play a crucial role in the control of apical dominance. By applying auxin inhibitors or synthetic cytokinins, the concentration of auxins in the apical bud can be reduced. This reduction in auxin concentration reduces the suppression on lateral bud growth, resulting in the release of apical dominance. The application of plant hormones can be done through foliar sprays or by applying hormone-treated substrates around the base of the plant.
By employing either pruning or the application of plant hormones, apical dominance can be effectively suppressed in plants, allowing for the growth and development of lateral buds.