EPA Study Finds Bentgrass Blowin’ in the Wind

EPA Study Finds Bentgrass Blowin’ in the Wind
The Leaf-let conducts an exclusive interview
with Dr. Anne Fairbrother
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

LL:
What is your position at the EPA and where are you based?

AF:
I am the Chief of the Risk Characterization Branch in the Western Ecology Division, part of EPA’s Office of Research and Development; a division of the National Health and Ecological Effects Research Laboratory. The Principle Investigator and Project Leader for this study is Dr. Lidia Watrud (of the Western Ecology Division.

LL:
In the study you performed at a test farm in Oregon, you found that pollen from genetically modified bentgrass could spread the resistance gene CP4 EPSPS as far as 13 miles. How was the study conducted?

AF:
In 2002, The Scotts Seed Company planted approximately 400 acres of Roundup-resistant creeping bentgrass in central Oregon. If the USDA allows commercialization of this crop, the seed would be marketed to golf course managers through most of the United States. Before the crop can be commercialized, USDA-APHIS needs sufficient data and information to ensure that unintended effects will be avoided and that, to the extent necessary, the innovation can be effectively managed. Additionally, EPA is interested in developing methods that can be used to predict the risk of gene flow from crops to naturally occurring plants, with the hope that such methodology can be applied to assessing potential risks of the types of GM crops that are regulated by our agency. Therefore, during the pollination period of the bentgrass in the summer of 2003, we (EPA scientists) established a large sampling grid of potted sentinel bentgrass plants to test the development of methods to determine how far pollen from fields of Roundup-resistant bentgrass would travel and if they could pollinate the potted plants and the same type of grasses that occur naturally in that area of Oregon. After pollination, the first generation of seeds were harvested and then germinated in EPA’s greenhouse to determine if the gene for resistance to Roundup herbicide was transferred to the progeny seedlings. About 2% of the seedlings from the potted plants had the Roundup resistance gene, and about 0.04% of naturally occurring bentgrass and 0.03% of its close relative, redtop, also received the gene. Most of the cross-pollination occurred within two miles of the fields on the bentgrass crop, but a small percentage of the potted plants up to 13 miles from the field had also received pollen from the crop. Naturally occurring grasses as far as nine miles from the fields had been cross-pollinated.

LL:
The idea behind the development of Roundup-resistant grass is that there would be more weed control in areas such as golf courses. What are some possible environmental ramifications if the gene passes to weeds in the area?

AF:
The gene would only pass to grasses that are closely related to the bentgrass, such as naturally occurring bentgrass or redtop. There are bentgrass relatives in just about all the 48 states of the mainland U.S. We don’t really know what the gene might do to these naturally occurring plants (particularly in the absence of any selection pressure from the use of Roundup). We are continuing our studies to develop the methods that will allow these kinds of "so what" questions to be answered for bentgrass or other genetically engineered crops.

LL:
Some believe it unlikely that genetically modified grass would spread its herbicide-resistant gene because golf greens are cut short and the grass isn’t allowed to flower. What’s your opinion?

AF:
That certainly is one possibility, and is something that USDA-APHIS will be considering as they conduct their Environmental Impact Assessment of the Roundup Ready® bentgrass, in response to The Scotts Company petition for deregulation.

LL:
At least one other company is attempting to produce an herbicide-resistant bentgrass that has sterile seeds. Since the Scotts/Monsanto product is not yet cleared for use, is it possible that it may be rejected because their seeds can cross-pollinate, or do you believe their Roundup Ready® Creeping Bentgrass will receive approval? If so, when?

AF:
The USDA-APHIS just published a Federal Register notice to receive public comment as part of their EIS process. It is too soon to say what the possibility of acceptance/rejection of the petition is, or to speculate on whether or not USDA-APHIS will grant approval.

LL:
Many Leaf-let readers are in turfgrass management and related fields. Is there any other information you would like to share with regard to either herbicide-resistant grass or genetically modified grasses in general?

AF:
Just to be aware that grass pollen and seeds are very small and can easily be dispersed by the wind. As with any crop, appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the potential for unwanted cross-pollination with neighboring crops or naturally occurring grasses.

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