American Chestnut Trees discovered in Georgia

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passiflora_pink Central, AL(Zone 8a) May 19, 2006

Did you guys hear this?
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1501AP_Chestnut_Discovery.html

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levilyla Baltimore, MD(Zone 7a) May 19, 2006

That is very interesting.

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Decumbent Cincinnati, OH(Zone 6b) May 20, 2006

Yes, it is. I'd be curious to know why they are so quick to assume the trees are not blight resistant.

Scott

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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) May 20, 2006

I agree with Scott. Those are not very big trees, and might have escaped the blight temporarily.

Guy S.

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levilyla Baltimore, MD(Zone 7a) May 20, 2006

that is what I have heard...they get to a certain stage and then die away.

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Penn_Pete Glen Rock, PA May 20, 2006

Hey Guy, these also have the advantage of growing high on the mtn. where the soils are sharply draining and in the rain shadow, which means that it is very dry, compared to the rest of the local area. The dryness, thin soils and being very far south in the C. dentata range all may give the tree an advantage. The dryness inhibits the growth of the fungus, the extremity of the range limits the fungal load, and since it grows in a mostly conifer site there are few other hosts for the fungus. Added together, it means that maybe the conditions are only ideal for the fungus every so often. There are only a few other trees (Chestnut) on Pine Mtn., and none appear to be more than about 40y.o., so something is going on. they have decided against coring for an exact age to limit the ability of the fungus (if present) to enter the host. Still, each fruiting Am. Chestnut means that another soldier is present to maybe mutate and defend itself against the killer. ACF has been down to study the area, BTW.

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