What caused damage to the raspberry bushes when an applicator continued spraying despite wind conditions?

The damage to the raspberry bushes was primarily caused by the drift of the herbicide. When spraying pesticides or herbicides, wind conditions play a crucial role in how these chemicals are dispersed. If an applicator sprays on a breezy day, the wind can carry the particles of the herbicide away from the target area, resulting in unintended application to nearby plants, such as raspberry bushes.

Drift occurs when droplets of the pesticide are carried away from the sprayed area and settle on non-target plants, where they can cause damage. This can lead to symptoms like leaf curling, discoloration, or even death of the plants. Understanding the concept of drift emphasizes the importance of wind conditions during application, as this is vital for the efficacy of control methods and minimizing damage to non-target species.

The other options, such as volatilization, runoff, and leaching, are related to herbicide behavior but do not directly pertain to the immediate issue of unintended herbicide impact on surrounding plants due to adverse wind conditions.