About Glyphosate:
- Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that can kill certain weeds and grasses.
- The product is used primarily in agriculture but also in forestry and lawn and garden care.
- Glyphosate is a small molecule made of a linear carbon chain with weaker bonds, which makes glyphosate less persistent in the environment.
- In India, it goes by various brand names, including Roundup, Glycel, and Brake.
- Herbicidal Action:
- Glyphosate works by inhibiting an enzyme called EPSP synthase, which is essential for the synthesis of certain amino acids that plants need for growth.
- By disrupting this enzyme, glyphosate interferes with the plant’s ability to produce proteins, leading to the eventual death of the plant.
- Broad-Spectrum:
- Glyphosate is considered a broad-spectrum herbicide, meaning it can effectively control a wide variety of plants, including grasses, broadleaf plants, and woody plants.
- It is effective only on plants that grow above the water. It will not be effective on plants that are submerged or have most of their foliage underwater, nor will it control regrowth from seed.
- Systemic Nature:
- Glyphosate is a systemic herbicide, which means it is absorbed by the plant’s leaves and then translocated throughout the plant’s vascular system.
- This allows it to reach various parts of the plant, including the roots, leading to effective control of both above-ground and below-ground plant parts.
- Glyphosate is degraded in soil and water by microbes and binds tightly to soil particles, which prevents the leaching of glyphosate into groundwater.
- Glyphosate does not degrade quickly in plants. As a result, it is possible that glyphosate residues can occur in food products.
Q1) What is an enzyme?
An enzyme is a type of protein molecule that acts as a biological catalyst in living organisms. Enzymes play a crucial role in facilitating chemical reactions within cells by increasing the rate of those reactions without being consumed or permanently altered themselves. They are essential for maintaining life processes and metabolic activities in all living organisms, from bacteria to humans.
Last updated on July, 2025
→ UPSC Notification 2025 was released on 22nd January 2025.
→ UPSC Prelims Result 2025 is out now for the CSE held on 25 May 2025.
→ UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 and Unofficial Prelims Answer Key 2025 are available now.
→ UPSC Calendar 2026 is released on 15th May, 2025.
→ The UPSC Vacancy 2025 were released 1129, out of which 979 were for UPSC CSE and remaining 150 are for UPSC IFoS.
→ UPSC Mains 2025 will be conducted on 22nd August 2025.
→ UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.
→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.
→ UPSC Result 2024 is released with latest UPSC Marksheet 2024. Check Now!
→ UPSC Toppers List 2024 is released now. Shakti Dubey is UPSC AIR 1 2024 Topper.
→ Also check Best IAS Coaching in Delhi