Briefly describe two ways in which apical dominance can be suppressed in plants

Answer 1

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.