Chestnut Restoration Threatened by Root Rot

Abstract

Once a dominant species in the eastern United States, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was largely wiped out by chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) in the early 20th century. Only 10 percent of the original population remains, and most of these trees are less than 1 inch in diameter. The ecological and economic value of chestnut has prompted extensive restoration efforts that have focused on developing blight-resistant chestnut trees and planting them in their native range.

Citation

USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 2024. Chestnut Restoration Threatened by Root Rot. Rooted in Research Issue 24, January 2024. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 2 p.