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Abstract
Correlative inhibition of axillary shoot growth is one aspect of apical dominance that has been extensively investigated, but we still have a limited understanding of how this interesting process is controlled (2). Substantial evidence indicates that auxin, especially IAA synthesized in the apical portion of the plant, can inhibit axillary shoot growth (see refs. 2, 14, and 15) and that the inhibitory effect of IAA is most likely exerted indirectly (see ref. 10). In general, when apical dominance is released by surgical removal of the apical portion of a young plant, release of suppressed growth of axillary buds is detectable within 6 to 12 hr. There are three phases of growth, an initial slow phase, a second accelerated growth phase (see ref. 2) and a subsequent slow phase. There is also considerable information indicating that factors from roots, especially cytokinins, may be important for promotion of axillary shoot growth (12).