Apical Dominance is not Due to a Lack of Functional Xylem and Phloem in Inhibited Buds

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Abstract
Mature sieve tubes were located in inhibited cotyledonary buds of soybean plants. They were connected to the pholem system of the stem and were shown to be functional by observing their ability to transport a phloem-mobile tracor. The associated xylem system was also shown to be functional by using a decolourized basic dye tracer. The inhibited buds in the axils of the primary leaves also contained sieve tubes and xylem elements which were connected to their counterparts in the stom. It is concluded that in soybeans the inhibition of bud growth due to apical dominance cannot be caused by an incomplete or non-functional vascular system.