A Guide to Vegetable Yield and Seed Quality

Apical dominance is the central factor that determines branching pattern in plant. (Streck 2005). Cline (2000) suggested that auxin acts as a repressor of buds outgrowth. According to McLucas (2007) removing the apex (cutting the tip) of a stem stops the auxin (hormone) flow and allows the buds behind the growing tip to develop into branches. Jone et al. (1989) stated that normal method of branch production is by pruning. Cutting height are designed to maximize yield while maintaining high quality and stand longevity (Daniel et al. 2007).