Groups or families of related chemical compounds have been categorised based on a similar chemical structure and ‘mode of action’. This is the way in which the active ingredients work to inhibit or eliminate the target pest organism.

What is the mode of action of glyphosate herbicide?

Mode of Action: In plants, glyphosate disrupts the shikimic acid pathway through inhibition of the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase. The resulting deficiency in EPSP production leads to reductions in aromatic amino acids that are vital for protein synthesis and plant growth.

What process inhibits glyphosate?

The herbicidal effects of glyphosate are due to the inhibition of the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS), an enzyme from the shikimate pathway, which leads to prevention of the biosynthesis of the amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan (Siehl, 1997).