What is a common sign of pesticide drift damage on non-target plants?

• A. Increased root length only.
• B. Uniform, enhanced growth across all leaves.
• C. Leaf stippling, curling, or necrotic margins on exposed leaves.
• D. Fruit ripening is accelerated.

Answer: (C)

Pesticide drift injures plant tissue on contact, so the telltale signs show up on the parts of non-target plants that were exposed to the drift. Leaf stippling appears as tiny, speckled marks where cells have been damaged. Curling often occurs as damaged leaf tissue loses its normal turgor and protection, causing edges to bend. Necrotic margins are dead tissue along leaf edges where the chemical caused localized cell death. These symptoms point to foliar injury from a drift event rather than a growth or developmental change. In contrast, signs like increased root length, uniform enhanced growth, or faster fruit ripening aren’t typical results of drift injuries, which are about tissue damage on exposed leaves.