What is the term for the tendency of terminal buds to inhibit the growth of lateral buds?

The concept of apical dominance refers to the phenomenon where the growth of lateral buds is suppressed by the presence of terminal buds at the tips of the plant stems. This suppression occurs because the terminal buds produce auxins, which are hormones that promote growth in the vicinity of the bud while inhibiting the development of buds positioned further down the stem. The primary advantage of this mechanism is that it allows a plant to grow taller and prioritize vertical growth, which can increase access to sunlight and resources.

In contrast, meristematic growth refers to the process of cell division that occurs in meristems, or growth regions, in plants. Dominance hierarchy generally refers to the social structure seen among groups of organisms, which does not apply here. Lateral inhibition describes a different biological process, where one cell inhibits the development of neighboring cells, often used in the context of neural and developmental biology.

Understanding apical dominance is crucial for arborists and professionals in horticulture, as it informs how pruning and management strategies can encourage or discourage growth patterns in trees and shrubs.