Vegetative Growth

What happens when the apex of a plant is removed?

Question

Vegetative Growth

What happens when the apex of a plant is removed?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: The prompt asks, 'Vegetative Growth: What happens when the apex of a plant is removed?' The provided data includes the correct answer as: 'The lateral buds (aided by cytokinin) grow.' However, no answer options are provided to analyze individually.

Context and concepts: In many plants, apical dominance is the phenomenon where the apical meristem (the apex) produces auxin that travels downward and suppresses the growth of lateral buds. When the apex is removed, the source of auxin is reduced or eliminated, diminishing the inhibitory signal on lateral buds. This release from apical dominance allows lateral buds to break dormancy and grow into lateral shoots. Cytokinins, which are often transported from the root to shoot and can promote lateral bud growth, contribute to the promotion of these lateral shoots once the apical signal is removed. Therefore, the typical outcome after apex removal is the activation and growth of lateral buds.

Given Answer Evaluation:
- Correct statement: 'The lateral buds (aided by cytokinin) grow.' This aligns with the standard explanation of apical dominance: removal of the apex reduces auxin-mediated suppression, allowing lateral buds to grow, with cytokinins supporting their outgrowth. The phrase 'aided by cytokinin' correctly notes the hormonal influence that fosters lateral shoot development.

Why this outcome makes sense in plant physiology:
- Apical dominance is primarily mediated by auxin from the shoot apex, which suppresses axillary (lateral) bud growth.
- Removal of the apex lowers auxin levels in the stem, lifting suppression on lateral buds.
- Cytokinins promote lateral bud outgrowth and can enhance branching when the inhibitory auxin signal is reduced or absent.
- Therefore, the expected response to apex removal is increased activity and growth of lateral buds, leading to branching.

Potential misconceptions to avoid:
- If someone assumes all growth immediately ceases after apex removal, that would ignore the release of lateral buds; the plant often redirects growth into lateral branches rather than stopping growth entirely.
- Believing that only drastic hormonal changes occur without involvement of cytokinins would overlook their role in promoting lateral bud outgrowth alongside reduced auxin signaling.

Note on missing options:
- Since there are no provided answer choices to compare, this explanation centers on why the stated correct answer ('The lateral buds (aided by cytokinin) grow.') is consistent with established plant hormone interactions following apex removal.

Vegetative Growth What happens when the apex of a plant is removed?

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