What is apical dominance in plants?

• A. The suppression of lateral bud growth by the apical bud
• B. The ability of plants to grow towards light
• C. The process of leaf shedding in response to environmental stress
• D. The development of roots from non-root tissues

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of apical dominance: It is a phenomenon in plants where the main, central stem of the plant is dominant over other side stems; this is primarily due to the presence of the apical bud at the tip of the plant.
2. Recognize the role of the apical bud: The apical bud produces hormones, particularly auxins, which suppress the growth of lateral (side) buds, allowing the plant to grow taller rather than wider.
3. Identify the function of auxins: Auxins are plant hormones that play a crucial role in coordinating various growth and behavioral processes in the plant's life cycle, including the suppression of lateral bud growth.
4. Differentiate apical dominance from other plant processes: Apical dominance specifically refers to the suppression of lateral bud growth, not to processes like phototropism (growth towards light), abscission (leaf shedding), or adventitious root formation (roots developing from non-root tissues).
5. Relate apical dominance to plant growth strategies: By suppressing lateral growth, plants can prioritize vertical growth to access more light, which is advantageous in dense plant communities.