Glyphosate-based herbicides all work on the same biochemical principle -- they inhibit a specific enzyme that plants need in order to grow. The specific enzyme is called EPSP synthase. Without that enzyme, plants are unable to produce other proteins essential to growth, so they yellow and die over the course of several days or weeks. A majority of plants use this same enzyme, so almost all plants succumb to Roundup.It is also one of the more benign herbicides environmentally -- breaks down after a few days exposure to the elements. Posted by DaveH at May 18, 2006 7:44 PM
I once talked to a tox person at my company who told me that you'd sooner drown in Round Up than be affected by the toxicity of it. And the breaking up of it when it hits the ground is an added plus.
Posted by: .....Dan at May 20, 2006 5:58 AMthanks for the info - I always thought it was poisonous
Posted by: bird dog at May 19, 2006 5:11 PMSometimes I really envy your ability to work out in the real world. It sounds great, really.
Posted by: Don McArthur at May 18, 2006 8:41 PM