Illinois Field Crop Applicators Practice Test

Which type of fungicides are absorbed by the plant and move only upward?

1. Local penetrants

2. Systemic fungicides

3. Broad-spectrum fungicides

4. Contact fungicides

The correct answer is: Systemic fungicides

Systemic fungicides are designed to be absorbed by the plant and are capable of being translocated within the plant's vascular system, predominantly moving upward through the plant tissue. This movement allows systemic fungicides to offer protection not only on the surface where they are applied but also in areas of the plant that may not have been directly treated, such as newer growth or parts of the plant that were previously infected. In contrast, other types of fungicides, such as local penetrants and contact fungicides, do not exhibit the same systemic action. Local penetrants may move a short distance into plant tissues but lack the capability for upward movement throughout the plant. Contact fungicides, as the name suggests, primarily act wherever they are applied and do not penetrate into the plant tissues at all, providing protection only to the areas they cover directly. Broad-spectrum fungicides refer to the spectrum of activity against various pathogens rather than their movement capabilities within the plant. Therefore, systemic fungicides are distinct in their ability to move upward after absorption, offering extended protection against fungal diseases.