Glyphosate tolerant "creeping bent grass / krypvein" (Agrostis stolonifera) has been developed to be able to tolerate higher concentrations of herbicide with glyphosate than other plants can tolerate. This is to be able to form an even lawn on e.g. areas such as golf courses, without random other species that will destroy the uniformity of the lawn. The cp4-epsps gene from a bacterium (Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain CP4) has been inserted. The Cp4-epsps gene forms a more glyphosate-tolerant form of the enzyme EPSPS (5-enolpyruvulshikimate-3-phosphate synthase). This enzyme is necessary for the survival of plants. Glyphosate, which is in herbicides such as Roundup, will stop EPSPS activity. CP4-EPSPS reduce affinity for glyphosate and thereby increase tolerance to glyphosate herbicides.
There are four species of Bentgrass registered in the USA which are invasive species. These are: pacific bentgrass (Agrostis avencea), velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina), colonial bentgrass (Agrostis capillaris), creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera). The problem with creeping weed is that it can be genetically modified and therefore resistant to the most commonly used herbicides with glyphosate. Glyphosate is the only herbicide approved near watercourses, and GMO creeper has established itself precisely there. GMO creeper has spread from Idaho to Oregon and is growing in large mats through the irrigation system. It thrives in canals and ditches where it collects sediment and obstructs water flow, and has proven difficult to control.
GMO creeper can spread to where there are non-GMO crops, for example fodder crops such as alfalfa. It will also be able to invade natural areas. It has been documented that some GMO creeper has mixed with other grasses and produced hybrids that are also Roundup resistant. Krypkvein is a green grass that grows strong, horizontal stems. This can provide a very even ground, if glyphosate is also used against weeds, as was desired on golf courses and some other sports fields.
This genetically modified creeper is different from the common creeper due to gene modifications for herbicide resistance. But this herbicide resistance is against the world's best-selling herbicides. Using these herbicides where there is herbicide-resistant bentgrass will kill all the other plants competing in the same locations. After the application of glyphosate agents, all other grasses will wither and die, thus giving way and promoting the growth of the genetically modified grass that can tolerate glyphosate agents (such as Roundup). This will primarily harm agriculture.
GMO creeper has spread from old seed fields in Idaho to Oregon USA. GMO creeper was found growing in large mats throughout a wide irrigation network there. GMO creeper thrives in canals and ditches, where it collects sediment and obstructs water flow. It has proven difficult to control. "The ditches with mats of creeping weed were full and the only herbicide approved for use near water was Roundup". After establishing a foothold outside its intended areas, it can eventually contaminate non-GMO crops and invade natural areas. Some of these grasses may now have merged with other grasses (Agrotis spp.), to produce new hybrids that are also Roundup resistant. These will probably also be able to spread more quickly in areas treated with glyphosate herbicides.
Links:
You Need to Be Paying Attention To GMO Grass
GMO grass is creeping across Oregon
Escape and establishment of transgenic glyphosateresistant creeping bentgrass