The quest to breed bluegrass-like lawn or pasture grass that is highly tolerant to drought has been the goal of the US Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Research Service geneticist Jason Goldman and colleagues at the Agency's Southern Plains Range Station in Woodward, Oklahoma. This is a part of the program to breed perennial cool-season forage grasses for the southern Great Plains as alternatives to wheat and other annual crops. 

The breeding program aims to produce varieties of blue grass that contains the heat and drought resistance of Texas bluegrass, and the excellent turf characteristics and seed producing qualities of Kentucky blue grass. In addition, the hybrid must also retain Kentucky bluegrass' ability to produce seeds that breeds true, ensuring identical progeny. 

The researchers have identified nine DNA primers that can verify successful bluegrass hybrids from DNA samples of seedings. These markers will also be tested to track progenies with the Texas bluegrass traits in crosses with other blue grass species, and for other purposes such as identifying markers linked to desirable or undesirable plant traits.

For details see the press release at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090817.htm