Apical Dominance
The phenomenon where the main central stem of a plant grows more strongly than lateral branches, suppressing their growth through hormonal signals. Removal of the apical (tip) meristem releases lateral buds from suppression.
Biological Context
Auxin produced by the growing tip flows downward and inhibits lateral bud growth. This ensures the plant invests in height before breadth—critical in competitive environments where light access depends on vertical growth. Pruning the apex releases dormant lateral buds, causing bushy growth.
Business Application
Amazon exemplifies apical dominance—concentrated expansion at specific tips (categories) while suppressing premature diversification. SAP's enterprise focus (apical dominance) prevented lateral branching into SMB markets. Companies must decide when to maintain focused trunk growth versus releasing lateral expansion.