The mitotic cycle can be arrested in the apical summit of vegetative terminal buds of Tradescantia paludosa by restricting the level of nitrogen or light available to the plant. Cells in this portion of the bud are much more sensitive to these stress conditions than those in the subjacent portion of the meristem. This differential response induced the establishment of a quiescent "central zone" which is distinguished from the rest of the meristem by the apparent absence of mitosis and DNA synthesis, larger nuclear volume, and a lower histone content of chromatin. These features are identical with those imposed by apical dominance in apices of inhibited lateral buds.The results support the view that competition for nutrients is an important causal factor in apical dominance. They suggest also that competition for nutrients within the terminal bud meristem is important in the regulation of growth in vegetative shoots in respones to conditions of the environment.