Apical Dominance
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Apical dominance is the apical bud's suppression of axillary bud growth, keeping a plant's shoot growth concentrated at its main tip.
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A conifer's strong apical dominance produces its typical conical shape; removing the apical bud lets axillary buds branch out.
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Pruning a plant's top exploits this mechanism deliberately, encouraging a bushier shape by releasing suppressed axillary buds.