Which statement correctly contrasts systemic and contact pesticides?

• A. Systemic pesticides are absorbed and translocated within the plant; contact pesticides kill pests on contact; both have pros and cons.
• B. Systemic pesticides act only on the soil surface.
• C. Contact pesticides are absorbed and move through the plant.
• D. Both types always have no advantages.

Answer: (A)

Systemic pesticides are taken up by the plant and then moved to different tissues (translocated) so the chemical reaches parts of the plant the pests feed on, even if those parts aren’t directly sprayed. Contact pesticides stay on the plant surface and kill pests only upon contact, without moving inside the plant. This contrast captures why each type has its own advantages and drawbacks: systemic products can protect new growth and hidden feeding sites, but they may have longer persistence and potential non-target effects; contact products can provide rapid knockdown and avoid internal movement, but they require good coverage and can wash off or break down more quickly. The other statements don’t fit how these products behave (systemics aren’t limited to the soil surface, and contact products aren’t absorbed and moved through the plant), and saying there are no advantages ignores the real trade-offs.