Chemical Pruning of Plants

Abstract
The lower alkyl esters of the C 8 to C 12 fatty acids and the C 8 to C 10 fatty alcohols selectively kill or inhibit the terminal meristem without damaging the axillary meristems, foliage, or stem tissue of a wide variety of plants. The axillary meristems develop at nearly the same time as those of plants whose terminal meristems have been removed manually. The concentration of the fatty acid esters and alcohols required to kill the terminal meristem range from 0.025 to 0.05 M for herbaceous plants, 0.05 to 0.16 M for semi-woody plants, and 0.16 to 0.27 M for woody plants.
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