ARS | Publication request: Turfgrass Genetic Modification and Genomic Approaches

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: December 31, 2009
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: In this chapter, we discuss molecular marker and genetic transformation methods, highlights, and progress in turfgrasses. In addition, we discuss DNA sequencing, genomic applications including RNA expression assays, uses of molecular markers in population genetics and association studies, and phylogenetics. As mentioned in previous reviews, we show that there is still a lack of DNA sequence information available for most turfgrass species. Focus will be on the major turfgrasses: perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), bentgrasses (Agrostis spp.), zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.), and bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.). This focusing on 'primary' species exist due to the cost of conducting genomic and biotechnological studies, which have limited the research to the species with the largest amount of funding available.