What is it called when a plant historically survives herbicide action?

The term that describes a plant's historical ability to survive herbicide action is known as herbicide resistance. This occurs when a plant evolves or is genetically adapted to survive exposure to a particular herbicide. Essentially, these resistant plants have developed mechanisms that allow them to withstand the effects of the herbicide, often through various biochemical or physiological changes.

Herbicide tolerance, on the other hand, usually refers to a situation where a plant is genetically modified or bred to endure higher levels of specific herbicide treatments without suffering damage. This does not necessarily imply that the plant has historically survived the action of that herbicide but rather that it has been designed or selected to maintain viability in its presence.

Herbicide efficacy pertains to the effectiveness of a herbicide in controlling or killing target weeds, while herbicide sensitivity relates to the susceptibility of a plant species to the action of herbicides. These concepts play different roles in understanding plant-herbicide interactions but do not directly address the historical survival aspect that is central to herbicide resistance.