Phosphorus NMR as a tool to study mineralization of organophosphonates—The ability of Spirulina spp. to degrade glyphosate

A commercially available mixed culture of Spirulina spp. exhibited a remarkable ability to degrade the widely used organophosphorus herbicide glyphosate, that served as sole source of either phosphorus or nitrogen for cyanobacterial growth. 31P NMR analysis of spent media appeared to be an effective and simple technique to follow disappearance of the phosphonate and release of inorganic phosphate in biodegradation process(es).