Question

Decapitation i.e. removal of shoot tips in a plant usually results in

• A. inactivation of lateral buds
• B. growth of lateral buds
• C. cessation of plant growth
• D. yellowing of leaves.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

growth of lateral buds

Apical dominance is the phenomenon by which presence of apical bud does not allow the nearby lateral buds to grow. When the apical bud is removed, the lateral buds sprout. Apical bud inhibits the growth of lateral buds by releasing auxins. When a plant is decapitated i.e., its apical bud is removed then the lateral buds sprout, resulting in dense bushy growth. This phenomenon is widely used in the tea plucking and hedge making.

So the correct answer is 'growth of lateral buds'.