What type of plants benefit from the application of translocated herbicides?

Translocated herbicides are particularly effective on perennial plants, which have extensive root systems and stored energy reserves in their roots or rhizomes. This type of herbicide is designed to be absorbed by the leaves and then moved throughout the plant's system, including its roots, effectively targeting the growth and development of the entire plant.

Perennial plants are generally more resilient due to their ability to endure and regrow from their root systems after unfavorable conditions. The translocation of the herbicide means that it can disrupt the physiological processes of the plant, ultimately leading to its death.

While annual and biennial plants can also be affected by translocated herbicides, they do not benefit in the same way that perennials do. This is because annuals complete their lifecycle in one growing season, and their primarily above-ground growth can be managed with other herbicide applications. Biennials have a two-year lifecycle, with a rosette growth stage in the first year and flowering in the second, making them less reliant on the root reserves that are targeted by translocated herbicides.

Thus, perennial plants are the primary beneficiaries of translocated herbicides due to their growth characteristics and root system structure.