Term for the growth dominance or predominance of the shoot tips (apical = located at the tip, relating to the tip of an organ). The growth of the side shoots is thereby suppressed. This phenomenon is controlled by the plant hormone auxin. This ensures that the uppermost eyes and shoots are preferentially supplied with nutrients. The tendency of the vine to grow upwards results from the plant's desire to be optimally supplied with light. The wild v ines basically grow upwards, while the base gradually becomes bare. This typical growth pattern is called acrotonic growth pattern (acron = tip). If the uppermost part of the shoots is removed, as is usual with shoot tip pruning, the apical dominance is broken. See also under vine training.
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