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Full-Text Articles in Biotechnology
Characterizing Bentgrass Distribution With Spatial And Biological Data To Support Ecological Risk Assessment In Connecticut, Carol Auer, Collin Ahrens, Jinwon Chung, Thomas Meyer
Characterizing Bentgrass Distribution With Spatial And Biological Data To Support Ecological Risk Assessment In Connecticut, Carol Auer, Collin Ahrens, Jinwon Chung, Thomas Meyer
Plant Science Presentations and Proceedings
Genetically-modified (GM) crops must be assessed before they are released into the environment. Our research examines the potential for gene flow and negative ecological impacts from the release of GM turfgrasses. Gene flow can produce hybrid offspring with transgenes and novel traits that could change the ability of the plant to survive and spread. If hybrid offspring have an advantage in the environment, they could become invasive and/or affect other components of our ecosystems. Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) is a common, non-native turfgrass that is a weed and could hybridize with other Agrostis species. At present, United States Department of …
Ecological Risk Assessment Of Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum) In Connecticut., Carol Auer, Geoffrey Ecker
Ecological Risk Assessment Of Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum) In Connecticut., Carol Auer, Geoffrey Ecker
Plant Science Presentations and Proceedings
A native of North America, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a hardy rhizomatous perennial with an expansive range. The U.S. Department of Energy has identified switchgrass as a promising biofuel crop for low-input agriculture and marginal lands (Fig. 1). This has prompted research on improvement through genetic modification (GM). Before any new GM crop can be released, regulators must evaluate not only the modified plants, but also potential negative impacts to the environment. For example, hybridization between closely-related species could result in the transfer of GM traits to relatives (gene flow) creating new weeds or invasives. The objective of this research …