From: Laurel Hopwood <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Sat, 6 Jan 2001
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: herbicide-resistant turfgrass alert

HERBICIDE-RESISTANT TURFGRASS ALERT

edited from Diversity, a News Journal for the International Genetic
Resources Community, Volume 16, Nos. 1& 2, 2000:

As of March 2000, 48 notifications and 12 permits were filed with
USDA-APHIS for commercially transformed creeping bentgrass (Agrostis
stolonifera); and 10 for Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis).
Successful commercialization depends on this herbicide-resistant grass
being deregulated by APHIS.

This is no small matter for several reasons:

1)   The size of the turfgrass seed industry is second only to that
of hybrid seed corn.

2)   Creeping bentgrass is the first perennial, stoloniferous,
wind-pollinated, outcrossing transgenic crop to be grown next to
naturalized and native populations of cross-compatible perennial
relatives and native species.

3)   Agrostis species are notorious for hybridizing freely. Six
non-native Agrostis species in the testing area alone (Oregon's
Willamette Valley) have become established along roadsides and other
disturbed areas, forming "hybrid swarms."

4)   As of the article date, no research had been published on
possible interspecific hybridization with native Agrostis species.

5)   We know little of the potential risks from the sale and
large-scale seed production of such altered crops.  (And these may
end up on a lot of golf courses in America.)

6)   Under a permit from APHIS, Pure Seed Testing, Inc. conducted a
study to, among other things, gather initial data on pollen movement
and stud interspecific gene flow into five introduced species of
bentgrass.

      Results from the study showed that:
      a)   the transgenic gene can pass to other introduced (non-native)
Agrostis species
      b)   the transgenic gene may be spread for much longer distances
than previously theorized
      c)   the transgenic plants were fertile and stable
      d)   cereal rye (which has acted as a successful pollen barrier for
other turfgrasses) was not an effective barrier for the genetically-altered
Agrostis.

7)   In February 2000, the first natural TRIPLE-HERBICIDE-resistant weeds
were reportedly discovered in Canada.

8)   Transgenic creeping bentgrass may be the tip of the iceberg.
Other species, known for their weediness in natural areas are sure to
come. Some of genetically-altered turfgrass cultivars also may
eventually be endophyte-enhanced. (Endophytes are naturally occurring
fungi.  They are implicated, however, in stillbirths and fetal
deformities in ungulate animals.)  The end result may be turfgrass
weeds that are harder to kill...and a lot of sick animals.  (I'm
checking on this angle.)

9)   Plans are under way for the possible sale of herbicide-resistant
turfgrass species through, you guessed it, HOME DEPOT.
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