What is the phenomenon of apical dominance in plants? How can it be artificially eliminated?
Apical dominance is the phenomenon by which high (over the positive range limit) auxin concentrations due to auxins from the apical bud moving downward the stem inhibit the growth of the lateral buds of the plant. At the starting of the stem development the apical dominance causes the plant growth to be longitudinal (upwards) as the growth of the lateral buds remains inhibited. As the lateral buds become more distant from the apex the auxin concentration in these buds lowers and shoots grow more simply.
The growth of tree branches can be stimulated preventing the apical dominance through the removal of the apical bud.
Plant Physiology - Image Diversity: apical dominance