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Abstract
Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz.) is a warm-season turfgrass that is highly susceptible to dollar spot caused by Clarireedia spp. Embryogenic callus lines of seashore paspalum were transformed with a wheat germin gene for oxalate oxidase, gf-2.8. Transformed lines were then evaluated for gene presence, expression, and disease resistance. Analysis by PCR indicated that breeding lines 17-726 and 17-756 had higher transformation rates than SS13. A colorimetric oxalate oxidase enzyme assay measured differences between lines ability to convert oxalic acid to H2O2. Using qRT-PCR, it was determined that lines 1B-11, 1B-13, 1B-15, 1B-17, 1B-19, R2-2BA, 5A-10, 5A-3, 6A-2, 7A-53, and 4-CC overexpressed gf-2.8. The studies conducted are not able to conclusively determine if the overexpression of gf-2.8 in seashore paspalum increases disease resistance. Further screening in the greenhouse as well as the field are recommended with transformed lines that showed upregulation of the gene through qRT-PCR.