Which statement best describes systemic (translocated) herbicides?

• A. They move within the plant to affect other parts
• B. They act only on the sprayed leaf
• C. They degrade quickly in soil
• D. They primarily affect soil microorganisms

Answer: (A)

Systemic (translocated) herbicides are absorbed by the plant and then moved through the plant’s vascular system to other tissues. This internal movement lets the chemical reach and kill parts of the plant that weren’t directly sprayed, such as meristems, new growth, or roots. That’s why a systemic herbicide can kill an entire weed even if only part of it was treated.

This is different from a contact herbicide, which only affects the tissue it touches and does not move inside the plant. Degrading quickly in soil or primarily affecting soil microorganisms aren’t defining features of systemic translocation, and those statements don’t describe the key idea of internal movement within the plant.