Eighty Year Old Chestnut Discovered
Sunday September 14, 2003
A very rare find in 1999 on a Kentucky cattle farm could lead to the propagation of a blight-resistant American Chestnut reports the
Louisville Courier-Journal. This 80 year old Adair County, Kentucky, chestnut tree miraculously survived the blight that decimated American chestnuts throughout eastern forests.
It should be mentioned that the tree does show signs of blight attack. It did not escape the Cryphonectria parasitica fungus completely but is proving to be highly resistant. The tree find is rare because of its survival within the natural range of the chestnut and blight infections. There are mature American chestnut trees growing in states outside the tree's natural range including Michigan, Wisconsin, Oregon and Washington but they have not seen the blight.
Seeds are being collected from the Adair County tree. This fruit has been pollinated by genetic stock from The American Chestnut Foundation nurseries in Virginia and lately by local Kentucky pollen. Foresters will take three year-old trees and infect them with the blight to check for resistance.
An American Chestnut Comeback - What Happened?
American Chestnut Sprout - Forestry
It should be mentioned that the tree does show signs of blight attack. It did not escape the Cryphonectria parasitica fungus completely but is proving to be highly resistant. The tree find is rare because of its survival within the natural range of the chestnut and blight infections. There are mature American chestnut trees growing in states outside the tree's natural range including Michigan, Wisconsin, Oregon and Washington but they have not seen the blight.
Seeds are being collected from the Adair County tree. This fruit has been pollinated by genetic stock from The American Chestnut Foundation nurseries in Virginia and lately by local Kentucky pollen. Foresters will take three year-old trees and infect them with the blight to check for resistance.
An American Chestnut Comeback - What Happened?
American Chestnut Sprout - Forestry
Comments
very interesting information! It will surley help me w/ my 6th grade American chestnut project!
great info! it will help w/ my 6th grade American chestnut project for the 2ND ANNUAL AMERICAN CHESTNUT FESTVAL IN ROWLESBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, YOU SHOULD REALLY COME