Sukhpreet Sandhu, U. of Florida/Dpt. of Agronomy, P.O. Box 110300, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America, Fredy Altpeter, Univ. of Florida - IFAS, PO Box 110300, PO Box 110300, Gainesville, FL 32611-0300, United States of America, and Ann Blount, University of Florida, 3925 Highway 71 Nfrec, Marianna, FL 32446-7906, United States of America.
Bahiagrass is the most important forage grass in Florida and is also widely used as low-input turf. We recently developed an efficient genetic transformation protocol for bahiagrass. Transgenes with the potential to enhance turf and forage quality as well as stress tolerance were introduced into bahiagrass. Risk assessment and risk management research are integral components of this grass biotechnology program.
We will describe strategies and results towards monitoring transgene flow from apomictic, transgenic bahiagrass to sexual wildtype bahiagrasses. Also we will present results towards containment of transgenes and inducible, selective elimination of transgenic plants.
Recorded presentation