Waxy leaves may require which to improve spray effectiveness?

• A. Higher humidity
• B. Larger droplets
• C. An additive to dissolve cuticle
• D. Increase spray speed

Answer: (C)

Waxy leaves create a hydrophobic barrier that makes droplets bead up and resist spreading and absorption. To improve spray effectiveness, you need an additive that lowers surface tension and helps the spray wet and penetrate the leaf surface. An additive designed to dissolve or soften the cuticle (a surfactant/penetrant) increases leaf coverage and uptake, making the chemical more effective. The other choices don’t reliably address the waxy barrier: higher humidity by itself doesn’t overcome the wax; larger droplets tend to bead and run off waxy surfaces; increasing spray speed can worsen drift and reduce deposition.