Which characteristic can influence a pesticide's penetration into plant tissues?

The penetration of a pesticide into plant tissues is significantly influenced by the type of formulation. Different formulations, such as emulsifiable concentrates, wettable powders, or granules, can affect how the active ingredients interact with plant surfaces and subsequently move into the tissues.

For instance, emulsifiable concentrates, which are liquid formulations, may facilitate easier penetration due to their ability to spread oil-based ingredients over the plant surface. In contrast, wettable powders may require agitation or mixing with water to become effective, and their ability to penetrate can depend on how well they adhere to or are absorbed by the plant.

The physical and chemical properties of the formulation, such as viscosity, surface tension, particle size, and the presence of surfactants, greatly impact how effectively the pesticide can enter the plant, making the formulation type a critical factor in determining efficacy. Other choices, while they may hold some relevance, do not directly influence penetration as much as the formulation type does.