Roundup ready bent grass

[SL_Solow]

For some time plant breeders have been attempting to create through cross breeding and other more radical forms of genetic engineering a strain of bent grass that will resist "roundup" herbicide.  This would allow greenskeepers to spray for poa etc. without harming the bent grass.  Scotts submitted such a grass to the USDA and , in a rare move, was required to file an environmental impact statement.  The fear is that if the grass is allowed to flower, crosspollination with wild species may cause weeds to become resistant as well.  It appears that perfection in greens surfaces will have to wait for a while.

[RJ_Daley]

Maybe, they are trying to perfect something that is just about perfect now.  If they perfect bent grass cultivars that resist glyphosate death and further, have endophites to resist bugs, and more to resist snow molds, and more to grow slow yet remain dense and uniform and can tolerate dirty water; then what will we need college educated superintendents for?  Pretty soon all you will need is a robotic mower and Hoover vacuum cleaner.

Who isn't pleased with the general overall condition of their current turf on greens over the course of a season now?  Really!  Who isn't happy with what you have?

[Clay Huestis]

Who isn't pleased with the general overall condition of their current turf on greens over the course of a season now?  Really!  Who isn't happy with what you have?

Me!  But that's because I live in Spain, and general greenskeeping practices and talent lag waaaayyyy behind the US and Britain.  Outside of the US, courses are in dire need of  "college educated superintendents".

[Tony Ristola]

NPR had a segment on this.  They let the grass grow to seed and they found that wind carried it 14 miles.  The environmentalists fear it will overtake the natives.  The seed company stated that most golf courses cut the grass so short it won't seed, and if it did it could be taken out with other herbicides.

Hope I got the facts straight.

For Audio...Link to:
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3928527

A grass genetically modified to be resistant to a popular herbicide can spread new genes to other grass plants located miles away, scientists discover. The findings raise questions about how well altered plant genes can be contained

[SL_Solow]

Tony, you have it just right.  However, it is more than seeding.  As I understand it, cross pollination if the grasses flower may lead to hybrid weeds.  While I agree with RJ's sentiment, as one who has been involved with the Chicago District's efforts to test new grasses, I know that the search for "perfect conditions continues unabated.  I am afraid that most of the improved conditioning has gone hand in hand with less "interesting" architecture as the beteer grasses have required more irrigation and grooming which increases the costs of maintenance and leads to narrowing of fairways etc.  The attempts to breed grasses that need less water may be a step in the opposite direction.

[TEPaul]

SL:

A new putting green strain such as the new "A" series (A-1 and A-4---and perhaps their southern counterpart the "G" series) just loves dryness and firmness certainly the opposite of over-irrigation. The only potential problem with these new strains is they're very dense and requiring of different maintenance practices. But if one analyses it all carefully against what we've had it may just be "net effect" neutral.

[Tony Ristola]

SL:  You are right about cross pollination being the worry.  

I could see this grass being beneficial in regions where "medicines" used in the US cannot be used...like in parts of Europe.  Sure would make life easier for the supers here.

But I cannot see this grass making to Europe even for trials as Ggene manipulated products are seen as some type of voodoo.

[TEPaul]

RJ:

Don't you go throwing around words like "Glyphosate Death" and "Endophites" on here this early in the morning. Things like that can cause migrains!

[RJ_Daley]

Fine, I'll leave you to count your cotyledons and observe your membranous ligules, whilst I go play my 5th round of golf this week.  

[Steve Pozaric]

TEPaul:

How about parasitic nematodes.  Actually, there is a company  here in St. Louis (Divergence, Inc.) trying to find ways to combat those pesky things.  If they are successful, it would be very beneficial for crops and golf courses.

[W.H. Cosgrove]

The whole idea of genetically engineered plants and animals for that matter is frightening to me.  

Recent problems with genetically engineered corn increasing allergic reactions is one example of science gone slightly mad.  

I am conflicted when weighing the benefits advances made in Rice yields.  Third world nations have been able to reduce hunger through increased food production.  

Now as to the use of genetically Roundup resistant, do we really need to mess with Mother Nature in the interest of what is essentially playing field turf?  

[Donnie Beck]

Steve,

I hope they come up with something soon as nemacur will soon be taken off the market.

[GeoffreyC]

Cos

Where did you see any research that GI corn causes alergic reactions of any kind in humans.  

I find all of this posturing against genetically engineered food products to be "the sky is falling" nonsense. Humans have been "genetically engineering" food products for thousands of years by cross breeding methods that are slow, random and less effective. We can control the process now and it is effective and fast.

Where do you see the great effective increase in food production in third world nations?  Engineered rice with excess vitamin A, a product already ready to go could help MILLIONS of people in countries that use rice as a major food source.

There are at least two distinct methods of creating roundup (glyphosate ) resistant plants. The cause for concern to humans is negligable.