What happens if added less than the required amount of active ingredient to a tank mix?

• A. Aids in the development of resistance
• B. Pesticide is more effective
• C. Pesticide degrades quickly
• D. It reduces drift risk

Answer: (A)

When you apply less than the labeled amount, you expose pests to a sublethal dose that isn’t enough to kill most of them. Some individuals naturally have or develop tolerance to the chemical, so they survive and reproduce. Over time, the population shifts toward these resistant individuals, making the pesticide less effective and requiring other tactics or higher rates to achieve control.

The other ideas don’t fit because under-dosing doesn’t make the pesticide more effective, doesn’t inherently cause it to degrade faster, and drift risk is primarily about how the spray is applied (equipment, droplet size, weather) rather than the exact amount used.