What is "glufosinate"

n. The herbicide ''2-amino-4-(hydroxy-methyl-phosphoryl)butanoic acid''

Glufosinate (also known as phosphinothricin and often sold as an ammonium salt) is a naturally-occurring broad-spectrum systemic herbicide produced by several species of Streptomyces soil bacteria. Plants also metabolise bialaphos, another naturally-occurring herbicide, directly into glufosinate. The compound irreversibly inhibits glutamine synthetase, an enzyme necessary for the production of glutamine and for ammonia detoxification, giving it antibacterial, antifungal and herbicidal properties. Application of glufosinate to plants leads to reduced glutamine and elevated ammonia levels in tissues, halting photosynthesis, resulting in plant death.