Masters of Health Magazine May 2026 | Page 21

“Glyphosate excessive use chronically disrupts the shikimate pathway and can affect photosynthesis and yield in citrus trees”*

*Rodrigo Martinelli et al. Chemosphere 2022; 308: 136468

How Glyphosate Can Disrupt Nitrogen Fixation in Plants

• Mung beans exposed to glyphosate have impaired nitrogen uptake*

• Glyphosate exposure at sublethal levels severely impairs nitrogenase

activity**

• Nitrogenase converts nitrogen gas to ammonia

• Glyphosate inhibits phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC)**

• PEPC is important for incorporation of both carbon and nitrogen into plants***

*A Zaidi et al., Springer Verlag 2005;25

(4):497-504.

** N de Maria et al., J Agric Food Chem.

2006;54(7):2621-8.

*** R Chollet et al., Annu Rev Plant Physiol

Mung beans Plant Mol Biol 1996;47:273-298.