It turns out that the weeds that plague the golf course convey 'memories of mowing' to offspring
Golf course turfgrass species'remembers' if it was mowed, develops differently | Penn State University
https://news.psu.edu/story/655239/2021/04/19/research/golf-course-turfgrass-species-remembers-if-it-was-mowed-develops
Poa annua is a perennial or annual plant species with strong fertility, and vegetation has been confirmed on all seven continents on Earth, including Antarctica. In addition, Poa annua is strong enough to overwhelm other lawns and grows over a wide area, so it creates irregularities on the green of golf courses that require accurate putting, and has been hated as a weed that bothers golf courses.
However, in recent years, the idea of 'I think it is possible to make a green that does not easily affect putting' by using the vitality of the green with the Poa annua, has attracted attention, and the development of a variety of Poa annua suitable for the green has been attracting attention. Is being considered.
Professor David Huff, who studies turfgrass genetics at the Joseph E. Valentine turfgrass research center at Penn State University's Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, has been on the green of golf courses for a decade since 1994 with the help of the United States Golf Association. We were developing the most suitable varieties of Penn State University.
Ten years after the start of the research, Professor Huff developed 12 varieties with strong leaves and very short leaves, which are required for greens, and finally reached the stage of seed production. However, it is said that all varieties are suitable for greens only for 2 to 3 generations, and the height of the grass, which was short in the subsequent generations, has increased and it is no longer suitable for greens. The left of the image below is the Poa annua, which is highly suitable for green, and the right is the Poa annua several generations later.
At first, it was thought that it would cross with weeds, but no matter how many times Professor Huff tried it, Poa annua became a weed that grew high after several generations. Therefore, Professor Huff conducted research by involving graduate students in the project, and found that 'stress caused by shortening the height of grass by mowing' affects the growth of Poa annua. ..
Professor Huff said, 'When the Poa annua is mowed, the stress promotes DNA methylation and can convey the effects of mowing to offspring. To adapt to changes in the environment. The ability'plasticity'is provided by epigenetic mechanisms that alter gene function and affect its expression. '
DNA methylation is a reaction in which a methyl group is attached to the carbon atom of a nucleobase that constitutes DNA, and suppresses gene expression. For example, if Poa annua grows in an environment with herbivores, the taller the grass, the easier it will be to eat. Then, the DNA is methylated by the stress eaten, and it adapts so that the height of the grass does not grow as much as possible.
However, the laboratory-grown Poa annua was not stressed because it was neither mowed nor eaten by herbivores. As a result, DNA was not methylated, and after several generations, Poa annua became taller, Professor Huff believes.
Chris Benson, a doctoral student in Professor Huff's research team, said, 'By not being stressed by mowing, Poa annua is thought to have diminished the memory of epigenetic stress. Epigenetic memory will be established if the stress caused by mowing continues, and will be lost if the stress disappears. Using this finding, it is possible to overcome inheritance and develop stable varieties. I think we can do it. '
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