Two types of grass have been genetically modified – GM Grass – so that they do not trigger a human allergic response, and to reduce summer sniffles and sneezes.
German Spangenberg and a team from the Plant Biotechnology Centre at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia genetically modified two types of ryegrass, Perennial and Italian, that are commonly sown for lawns and pastures around the world and account for 70% of grass seed sold in the European Union.
In Europe and Australia, ryegrass is the main cause of hay fever, whereas in the US the main culprit is ragweed.
A hypoallergenic grass genetically modified to lack two common hay-fever allergens is set to enter field trials in the US.