Active ingredient
Glyphosate
Chemical name
N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine
Classification
Herbicide / Agrochemical
Formulation
95%Tech, 75.7%WDG, 88.8%WDG, 62%SL, 41%SL, 480g/l SL, 360g/l SL
Biochemistry
Inhibits 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), an enzyme of the aromatic acid biosynthetic pathway. This prevents synthesis of essential aromatic amino acids needed for protein biosynthesis.
Mode of action
Non-selective systemic herbicide, absorbed by the foliage, with rapid translocation throughout the plant. Inactivated on contact with soil.
Usage
Control of annual and perennial grasses and broad-leaved weeds, pre-harvest, in cereals, peas, beans, oilseed rape, flax and mustard, at c. 1.5-2 kg/ha; control of annual and perennial grasses and broad-leaved weeds in stubble and post-planting/pre-emergence of many crops; as a directed spray in vines and olives, at up to 4.3 kg/ha; in orchards, pasture, forestry and industrial weed control, at up to 4.3 kg/ha. As an aquatic herbicide, at c. 2 kg/ha.
Applications
Oral: Acute oral LD50 for rats 5600, mice 11 300, goats 3530 mg/kg.
Skin and eye: Acute percutaneous LD50 for rabbits >5000 mg/kg.
Eye irritant; non-irritating to skin (rabbits).
Inhalation: LC50 (4 h) for rats >4.98 mg/l air.