Effects of Glyphosate or “Organic Herbicide” on Rumen Bacterial Isolates In Vitro

Abstract

Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine) is widely used by agriculture and has been claimed to potentially influence microorganisms; for example, Lactobacillus spp., which forms part of the normal microbiota of humans and animals. Comparing a commercial glyphosate contain-ing herbicide against a recipe widely distributed on the internet, Kniss (2014) described as an organic herbicide the growth of five lactobacilli isolated from the bovine rumen and found little influence on rumen microbe isolates growth on agar plates. The growth of 5 isolates from the bovine rumen was not significantly influenced by glyphosate, a commercial glyphosate herbicide, and an organic herbicide and its components suggested that glyphosate influence is at most minor and likely to be of no consequence in vivo.