In plants, chlorophylls convert the sun's light into food. Some herbicides kill weeds by disrupting the manufacture of chlorophyll. Porphyrins then accumulate to high levels, making the weeds fatally hypersensitive to light. But such herbicides may also damage crops in the same field. The discovery may also lead to new ways to treat porphyria.
Adverse effects can include weakness, nausea, skin rash, and hypersensitivity to light.
A recent study done for USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service shows goat meat stands to pick up in the marketplace because of the United States' increasing cultural diversity. Now, scientists have found that forage peanuts could make a nutritious fall pasture for goats in many areas of the Gulf Coast region. For goats, the plants aren't grown for their nuts, but for nutrients in their leaves. In fact, goats may actually prefer peanut plants to alfalfa during the fall breeding season. The results suggest that setting aside some peanuts for pasture might be a profitable option.