Re:eradicating vines/roundup
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re:eradicating vines/roundup
- From: H* Z*
- Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 13:19:19 -0500
Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 08:46:40 -0800
From: Nan Sterman <nsterman@mindsovermatter.com>
Subject: Re: eradicating vines/roundup
>Perennial List 2/9/99 11:15 AM perennials@mallorn.com
>
>>I read somewhere that the active ingredient in Roundup works mainly by
>>photosynthesis-- so if you spray it on the leaves, rather than cutting
>>the leaves off first, you get the best killing action. Anyone know if
>>this is correct information?
>
The mechanism for killing by roundup is interesting. Roundup inhibits the
synthesis of three amino acids, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan.
These amino acids are needed for protein synthesis by the plant. When
synthesis of these amino acids is inhibited protein synthesis stops and
killing occurs. The site of synthesis is mainly leaf chloroplasts, so of
course spraying the leaves gives the best effect. The other interesting
things are that animals do not synthesize these amino acids (we must get
them in our diet) so roundup is not toxic to animals and humans and soil
microorganisms break down roundup rather quickly-it has a short half life.
Howard Zalkin
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