Which statement describes a selective herbicide?

Which statement describes a selective herbicide?

• A. A herbicide that moves through the vascular system to all plant parts.
• B. A herbicide that damages or kills only portions of the plants it contacts.
• C. A herbicide that kills all plants it contacts.
• D. A herbicide applied to leaves of growing plants.

Answer: (D)

Selective herbicides are designed to control specific plants while leaving others unharmed. In practice, many of these products are used foliarly—applied to the leaves of actively growing plants—where they are taken up and act on susceptible species while tolerant ones are spared. The other descriptions describe different herbicide types or outcomes: systemic action that moves to all parts of the plant, injury limited to only parts of a plant, or killing all plants it contacts (non-selective). So describing a herbicide as being applied to leaves of growing plants aligns with how selective products are commonly used to achieve targeted control.

Selective herbicides are designed to control specific plants while leaving others unharmed. In practice, many of these products are used foliarly—applied to the leaves of actively growing plants—where they are taken up and act on susceptible species while tolerant ones are spared. The other descriptions describe different herbicide types or outcomes: systemic action that moves to all parts of the plant, injury limited to only parts of a plant, or killing all plants it contacts (non-selective). So describing a herbicide as being applied to leaves of growing plants aligns with how selective products are commonly used to achieve targeted control.