A Systematic Study on the Microbial Degradation of Glyphosate: A Review

One of the most widely used herbicides for the control of annual and perennial weeds and grass worldwide is Glyphosate. Extensive use of this herbicide resulted in its ubiquitous presence in the environment and has an adverse effect on both human health and the ecosystem. The rapid binding of this herbicide to the soil particles makes it hazardous even for the soil organisms. There are several treatment technologies such as photocatalytic degradation, microbial approach or adsorption that removes glyphosate from the environment. Among both biotic and abiotic approaches, microbial degradation is the most effective and eco-friendly alternative for glyphosate removal. The microorganisms have the ability to use glyphosate as the sole source of carbon, phosphorus or nitrogen. There are several reviews pertaining to the fate and toxicity of both glyphosate and its intermediates while reviews on the biodegradation of glyphosate and its metabolic pathway are scarce. This minireview presents a collective summary on the environmental fate of glyphosate, different available treatment technologies for remediation from the environment. It focuses on the comparative assessment of the degradation of glyphosate by various methods considering their advantages and drawbacks.