Spring is here and many of us are ready to start sinking our hands into the newly warmed soil and begin our planting season. In addition to traditional flower and vegetable gardens, you may also consider adding trees to the list of things you would like to get into the ground before summer. If you have the space, the incredibly versatile, and endangered, American chestnut should be making your list this year.
An American Treasure
American chestnuts, once common across the Appalachian region of the Eastern United States, was devastated by a fungus known as the chestnut blight that was introduced to the United States in the 1900's. Once a dominant member of hardwood stands, the American chestnut was reduced to functional extinction in just 40 years.
We may never fully understand the gravity of the loss of the American chestnut, as there is little documentation of wildlife populations and forest communities prior to its disappearance from the landscape. Unlike oak and beech, chestnuts produce large quantities of hard mast (nuts) on a yearly basis, making them a reliable source of nutrient-dense food for wildlife such as squirrels, turkeys and deer. Without chestnut trees, forests are infused with large quantities of hard mast on a less reliable basis, possibly leaving wildlife populations at a reduced state.
The loss of the American chestnut impacted human communities as well. Roasted chestnuts were a staple in communities where the trees were abundant. The rot resistant lumber produced from American chestnuts was frequently used for the construction of telephone poles, fence posts and furniture. To this day, the lumber from American chestnuts remains highly valued by woodworkers, although it is much harder to source it reliably.
So how do we fix things?
Fortunately, not all hope is lost when it comes to the future of the American chestnut. With an abundance of community support, and a team of dedicated researchers, the American chestnut may become prevalent in forest stands once again. Several options for incorporating genetic resistance to blight are being explored.
Hybridization: By hybridizing American chestnuts with Chinese chestnuts we are able to introduce genetics that code for blight resistance into the population. Hybrid trees are continually back-crossed to one another to increase the percentage of American chestnut genetics in their offspring. Trees are tested for their resistance to blight through intentional inoculation with the fungus. Trees that display resistance to blight will be used in the breeding program while those that are not will be cut down.
Genetic Modification: A highly controversial, new possibility for the solution to the chestnut blight. Researchers have discovered a way to splice a single portion of the genetic code from Chinese chestnuts that codes for blight resistance into the genetic code of American chestnuts. While genetic modification often gets shrouded in bad press as commercial agriculture companies use it to create questionable short-cuts in the food industry, it stands to be a safe and effective means for tackling blight in American chestnuts. Through creating reliably resistant trees that are pure American chestnuts aside from a couple of new genes, genetic modification deserves to be considered as a possibility for reintroducing these incredible trees to the landscape.
How you can help
Plant American chestnut trees and spread the word! The American chestnut trees available for purchase at Viles Arboretum are provided by the Maine American Chestnut Foundation. The trees currently available to the public are pure American chestnuts, not hybrids. As a result, most trees available to the public remain susceptible to blight at this time. This should not discourage you from planting them if you have the opportunity! By planting these trees you are helping preserve essential genetic diversity that will aid in the conservation efforts of these incredible trees. Where most populations of chestnuts remain isolated and separated, transmission of blight is low (although not impossible). Some simple steps such as only pruning trees in dry conditions and protecting the trunk from insect and mower damage can further reduce the possibility of transmitting blight to your newly-planted chestnut trees.
The handout below provided by The American Chestnut Foundation provides comprehensive information to ensuring success with your newly acquired seedlings.
