Inadequate cold tolerance as a possible limitation to American chestnut restoration in the northeastern United States

Abstract

The American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marshall) Borkh.), once a major component of eastern forests from Maine to Georgia, was functionally removed from the forest ecosystem by chestnut blight (an exotic fungal disease caused by Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr), first identified at the beginning of the twentieth century. Hybrid-backcross breeding programs that incorporate the blight resistance of Chinese chestnut (Castenea mollissima Blume) and Japanese chestnut (Castenea crenata Sieb. & Zuc.) into American chestnut stock show promise for achieving the blight resistance needed for species restoration. However, it is uncertain if limitations in tissue cold tolerance within current breeding programs might restrict the restoration of the species at the northern limits of American chestnut's historic range.

Citation

Gurney, Kendra M.; Schaberg, Paul G.; Hawley, Gary, J.; Shane, John B. 2011. Inadequate cold tolerance as a possible limitation to American chestnut restoration in the northeastern United States. Restoration Ecology. 19: 55-63.