Glyphosate is a widely used chemical compound known for its effectiveness as a herbicide. It functions as a broad-spectrum, systemic herbicide, meaning it controls a wide range of plants by being absorbed through their foliage and distributed throughout the plant’s system. Introduced in 1974 by Monsanto under the trade name Roundup, glyphosate became a common tool for managing unwanted vegetation. Its primary role involves eliminating weeds, particularly annual broadleaf weeds and grasses.
Identifying Glyphosate on Product Labels
To determine if a herbicide contains glyphosate, review the product label’s “Active Ingredients” section. This section is the definitive source for identifying the chemical compounds responsible for the product’s action. Glyphosate is typically listed by its common name or as one of its various salt forms.
Common salt forms include isopropylamine, diammonium, monoammonium, potassium, sodium, and trimethylsulfonium (or trimesium) salt. The label also specifies the concentration of glyphosate, often expressed as a percentage by weight or in pounds per gallon. Concentrations vary significantly, from approximately 1% in ready-to-use home garden products to 40% or higher in concentrated commercial or agricultural formulations.
Common Glyphosate-Containing Herbicides
Many herbicide products for residential and agricultural use contain glyphosate as their active ingredient. The most recognized product line is Roundup, which includes formulations like Roundup Pro, Roundup Ultra, Roundup QuikPRO, Roundup PowerMax, and Roundup ProVantage. These products are widely used for general weed control.
Beyond the Roundup brand, numerous other herbicides utilize glyphosate. Examples include Eraser, Glyfos, Accord, KleenUp, Ranger Pro, Weedoff, Durango DMA, Buccaneer, Cornerstone, Credit, and Gly Star. Some products like Gallup Biograde Amenity and Gallup Hi-Aktiv Amenity are popular in professional and public amenity sectors. These brand names often feature different concentrations of glyphosate and may include additional inert ingredients or surfactants to enhance performance.
Why Glyphosate is Widely Used
Glyphosate’s widespread adoption stems from characteristics that make it highly effective in weed management. It is a non-selective herbicide, controlling a broad spectrum of plants including grasses, broadleaf weeds, and woody plants. Its systemic action allows absorption through plant foliage and translocation throughout the entire plant, reaching roots and other growing points for complete weed elimination.
The mechanism of action for glyphosate involves inhibiting an enzyme called 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), part of the shikimate pathway. This pathway is essential for plants and some microorganisms to produce specific aromatic amino acids necessary for their growth and survival. By blocking this enzyme, glyphosate disrupts the plant’s ability to synthesize these amino acids, ultimately leading to its death. Glyphosate generally exhibits no residual activity in the soil, meaning it breaks down in the environment and does not persist to affect subsequent plantings or nearby desirable plants through root uptake.