Reduced vegetative growth is a consequence of the dominance
of developing fruit over shoot meristems in their competition for
resources. Perspectives of different disciplines studying this process
are provided. Previous research gave rise to at least two
supposedly opposing models: a nutrient/carbohydrate (competition)
model versus a hormone/signal (dominance) model. In
the first model heavy fruit load depletes the plants of nutrients/
carbohydrates required for sufficient shoot growth [5]. In the
latter model the fruit transmits a signal(s) that reduces growth of
the meristem [1]. It appears that hormonal signals nutrients and
carbohydrates are involved in establishing dominance. We also
review literature on the communication between branches, the role
of seeds in this process and the use of a genetic approach to identify
genes that modulate the amplitude of alternate bearing cycles. We
compare this process to other cases of dominance between developing
sinks in plants. The role of polar auxin transport as a signal
in different modes of dominance, and the interaction of auxin with
other plant hormones is also discussed. We suggest that export of
auxin from dominant fruit may be the mobile signal that triggers
events outside of the fruit. To obtain uniformity, all calendar dates
mentioned are according to the northern hemisphere.