What is a characteristic of glyphosate?

Glyphosate is indeed characterized as an enzyme inhibitor, specifically targeting the shikimic acid pathway, which is vital for the growth of many plants and some microorganisms. This inhibition disrupts essential processes for amino acid and protein synthesis, effectively stunting the growth of the plants treated with glyphosate. Its mechanism makes it a non-selective herbicide, meaning it can kill a wide range of plants that are not tolerant to it, particularly those that do not have the necessary resistance traits.

The other characteristics, while relevant to other herbicides, do not properly describe glyphosate. For instance, the idea that glyphosate is root absorbed pertains more to how other herbicides, like systemic ones, operate. Contact herbicides work differently, affecting only the plant parts they come into contact with, which does not apply here since glyphosate is more systemic. Lastly, glyphosate is not specifically designed for submersed weed control; it is generally used for a range of terrestrial and some aquatic applications, but primarily for surface-level or root infiltration rather than for controlling weeds that are completely under water.