Final answer:
Abscisic acid affects dormancy in lateral buds, stem elongation, and stomatal closure in plants.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abscisic acid (ABA) affects various physiological processes in plants. One important role of ABA is to induce dormancy in lateral buds and inhibit stem elongation. ABA also plays a role in the regulation of stomatal closure, which helps prevent water loss from leaves during stressful conditions. For example, when a plant is stressed due to lack of water, ABA tells the stomata to close and prevent excessive water loss.