What process involves apical buds forming new stems from the stump or roots of a tree?

The process where apical buds form new stems from the stump or roots of a tree is known as coppicing. This technique involves cutting back trees or shrubs to ground level or near the base, which stimulates the growth of new shoots from the remaining root system. This regeneration occurs because the tree has a strong ability to produce new growth from dormant buds located in the stump and roots.

Coppicing is often used in forestry and horticulture to manage tree species that respond well to this form of pruning. It not only promotes new growth but can also enhance biodiversity in an area by creating a variety of habitat structures. The new shoots can be harvested periodically for timber, fuel, or mulch, making coppicing an effective sustainable management practice.

The other processes listed involve different methods of plant propagation or growth adjustments that do not directly resemble how coppicing works. Grafting involves joining parts from two plants so they grow as one, stooling refers to a method of propagation by making cuts in the plant's stem, and layering is a technique where stems are encouraged to root while still attached to the parent plant. None of these methods create new growth from stumps or roots in the way that coppicing does.