Which pesticide type is specifically designed to be absorbed through plant leaves and roots?

The best choice for a pesticide type that is specifically designed to be absorbed through plant leaves and roots is systemic pesticides. These are formulated to be taken up by plants and translocated throughout their tissues, allowing them to move within the plant to target areas where they can effectively control pests. Systemic pesticides are particularly useful for managing pests that reside inside plant tissues where contact treatments may not reach.

In contrast, contact pesticides do not penetrate plant tissues; they act only on the surface where they are applied, killing pests that come into direct contact with the chemical. Selective pesticides are designed to target specific pests or plants without harming others, but this does not inherently relate to their absorption properties. Herbicides, while also capable of being systemic, are a broader category focused specifically on plants, but not all herbicides are necessarily systemic. Hence, the distinction is critical for understanding how these products work within a plant system, making systemic pesticides the best answer.