What physical characteristics can affect the selectivity of herbicides?

The selectivity of herbicides is significantly influenced by the thickness of leaf cuticles and the presence of hairs on the leaves. These physical characteristics can affect herbicide absorption and translocation within the plant. For instance, plants with thick cuticles may impede the penetration of certain herbicides, reducing their effectiveness. Similarly, hair-like structures on leaves can create a physical barrier that affects how well a herbicide can adhere to or penetrate the plant surface.

Understanding these characteristics is crucial in aquatic herbicide applications since different aquatic plants may possess varying degrees of cuticle thickness and hair presence. This directly impacts which herbicides will be effective against specific plant species while minimizing harm to non-target organisms. Thus, the focus on leaf cuticles and hairs highlights an important aspect of herbicide selectivity that practitioners need to consider in their application strategies.