Recent developments in metabolomics-based research in understanding transgenic grass metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Transgenic herbicide-resistant (HR) turfgrass together with its associated, broad spectrum herbicides promise cheap, selective and efficient weed control by excluding infested weeds resulting in turf lawn with high uniformity and aesthetic value. The concept of this "weeding program" initiated from modern biotechnology has been widely implemented in several principal crops including maize, soybean, canola and cotton as early as the 1990s. Transgenic HR turfgrass classified as a genetically modified organism (GMO) has undoubtedly caused public concern with respect to its biosafety and legalities similar to well-established HR crops. Nevertheless, applying metabolomics-based approaches which focuses on the identification of the global metabolic state of a biological system in response to either internal or external stimuli can also provide a comprehensive characterization of transgenic grass metabolism and its involvement in biosecurity and public perception. AIM OF REVIEW: This review summaries the recent applications of metabolomics applied to HR crops to predict the molecular and physiological phenotypes of HR turfgrass species, glyphosate-resistant Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and glufosinate-resistant creeping bentgrass (Agrotis stonifera L.). Additionally, this review also presents background knowledge with respect to the application of metabolomics, transformation of HR crops and its biosafety concerns, turfgrass botanical knowledge and its economic and aesthetic value. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to demonstrate the molecular and physiological phenotypes of HR turfgrass based on several lines of evidence primarily derived from metabolomics data applied to HR crops to identify alterations on HR turfgrass metabolism as a result of genetic modification that confers resistant traits.