15/16 chestnut spource

[Jordan Selsor]

When they gonna start selling these trees!? Would love to plant some on the new farm

 

[NorthPotter]

according to germplasm agreements that people have to sign, they can not sell any of the 15/16th nuts. (let me know if you want the link). And, even though some state tree farms have started growing 15/16th seedlings, I have been told they can not sell it yet either because the trees still fall under the agreement. However, you may be able to secure them through the ACF for "field testing" or I believe if you are a member of the ACF you are eligible to purchase nuts.

Data recently released by the TACF chief biologist on the 15/16th trees is not encouraging. They have determined that blight resistance is carried on 9 of the 12 chinese chromosomes, not just 2 or 3. Doing some probability math easily shows that it is very difficult to capture all of the blight resistance from 9 chromosomes through back-crossing. And by the time you do that, the tree has so much chinese phenotype that it does not resemble an american. Data released from the 15/16th trees also shows only about 20-30% survival after 5 years. However, there are still some samples of individuals within the back-cross trees that show good blight resistance so there are still arguments for the back-breeding program. But, there is now a strong presence to move away from back-crossing and place combined group efforts into the transgenic chestnut. However, as you can imagine, there is alot of time, $$$$, effort (and politics) tied into the back crossing so its not as simple as changing directions.

What does that mean to us wildlife habitat people? If I were "field testing" 15/16th trees, I would secure more than originally estimated quantities to permit for considerable losses. I would not expect that they may resemble an american, I would not expect that the nuts would be sweet like an american etc., etc. and I would still plant good producing Chinese Chestnut trees knowing that there is a good chance they will last 20+ years.

Not only has SUNY-ESF developed transgenic americans but this summer they have successfully shown blight resistance in transgenic chinkapins. The transgenic American has started its FDA approval process.

I may be a slightly off for some of my wording so please add any additional information I may have unintentionally misrepresented. I am paraphrasing as best I could remember from my reading and discussions.

 

[Jordan Selsor]

according to germplasm agreements that people have to sign, they can not sell any of the 15/16th nuts. (let me know if you want the link). And, even though some state tree farms have started growing 15/16th seedlings, I have been told they can not sell it yet either because the trees still fall under the agreement. However, you may be able to secure them through the ACF for "field testing" or I believe if you are a member of the ACF you are eligible to purchase nuts.

Data recently released by the TACF chief biologist on the 15/16th trees is not encouraging. They have determined that blight resistance is carried on 9 of the 12 chinese chromosomes, not just 2 or 3. Doing some probability math easily shows that it is very difficult to capture all of the blight resistance from 9 genes through back-crossing. And by the time you do that, the tree has so much chinese phenotype that it does not resemble an american. Data released from the 15/16th trees also shows only about 20-30% survival after 5 years. However, there are still some samples of individuals within the back-cross trees that show good blight resistance so there are still arguments for the back-breeding program. But, there is now a strong presence to move away from back-crossing and place combined group efforts into the transgenic chestnut. However, as you can imagine, there is alot of time, $$$$, effort (and politics) tied into the back crossing so its not as simple as changing directions.

What does that mean to us wildlife habitat people? If I were "field testing" 15/16th trees, I would secure more than originally estimated quantities to permit for considerable losses. I would not expect that they may resemble an american, I would not expect that the nuts would be sweet like an american etc., etc. and I would still plant good producing Chinese Chestnut trees knowing that there is a good chance they will last 20+ years.

Not only has SUNY-ESF developed transgenic americans but this summer they have successfully shown blight resistance in transgenic chinkapins. The transgenic American has started its FDA approval process.

I may be a slightly off for some of my wording so please add any additional information I may have unintentionally misrepresented. I am paraphrasing as best I could remember from my reading and discussions.

Thank you!
I appreciate the paraphrased version brother! Much appreciated!
dunstan an Chinese it is for this guy!

 

[NorthPotter]

Thank you!
I appreciate the paraphrased version brother! Much appreciated!
dunstan an Chinese it is for this guy!

yepper.

Also, FWIW, my land is North Central PA in a 5a (and some years it feels like a 4b since I have seen -24 and about 2 years in 5 we have frosts in early June). I tried some dunstans from chestnut hill back in maybe 2014..?? They do not, NOT do well in cold climates with late frosts. I had less then 10% survival. Meanwhile, within 100 yards of the dunstans I have wild Americans I grew from wild collected nuts plus Allegheny chinkapins from zone 6 sources. Both show 90+% survival. Some of the chinkapins are stunted in my climate but they love the soil and make it. I can assure you I have figured out how to grow chestnuts. The Chestnut Hill Dunstans just have not done well in my 5a. You should be ok if your Dunstans are being planted in Missouri. My $0.02.

 

[Jordan Selsor]

yepper.

Also, FWIW, my land is North Central PA in a 5b (and some years it feels like a 4a since I have seen -24 and about 2 years in 5 we have frosts in early June). I tried some dunstans from chestnut hill back in maybe 2014..?? They do not, NOT do well in cold climates with late frosts. I had less then 10% survival. Meanwhile, within 100 yards of the dunstans I have wild Americans I grew from wild collected nuts plus Allegheny chinkapins from zone 6 sources. Both show 90+% survival. Some of the chinkapins are stunted in my climate but they love the soil and make it. I can assure you I have figured out how to grow chestnuts. The Chestnut Hill Dunstans just have not done well in my 5a. You should be ok if your Dunstans are being planted in Missouri. My $0.02.

-25! Brrrrrr
We have had a few zero degree days over the years but they are few an far between.
At my previous farm I planted chestnut hill trees, Chinese from wildlife group an some from Mossy oak native nursery. All grew great. This new farm has better soil so hoping to duplicate.
I also have some Chinese chinquapin seed from Tom I am going to grow next spring. I hope to stagger chestnut trees and chinquapins in a row.

 

[Smokegobbler]

There are a couple of places that sell hybrids geared toward up right (timber) form with varying degrees of resistant. Burnt Ridge Nursery and Oikos Tree Crops come to mind.

 

[Jordan Selsor]

There are a couple of places that sell hybrids geared toward up right (timber) form with varying degrees of resistant. Burnt Ridge Nursery and Oikos Tree Crops come to mind.

At my previous farm I had 2 dunstan trees that grew more upright an taller than all my other chestnuts. They also dropped their nuts a couple wks later than my other trees. I have a half dozen seedlings growing in the garden from that tree. Gonna start with those. An hope to get some more seed off those trees in a wk or two.