<Li> "imposition of inhibition" (apical dominance), </Li> <Li> initiation of lateral bud outgrowth following decapitation, and </Li> <Li> elongation and development of the lateral bud into a branch . </Li> <P> These stages can also be defined by the hormones that are regulating the process which are as follows: Stage I, cytokinin promoted, causing the lateral bud to form since cytokinin plays a role in cell division; Stage II, auxin is promoted, resulting in apical dominance ("imposition of inhibition"); Stage III, cytokinin released resulting in outward growth of the lateral bud; and Stage IV, auxin is decreased and gibberellic acid is promoted which results in cell division, enabling the bud or branch to continue outward growth . </P>

Many conifers have their pyramidal shape due to apical dominance