Breakthrough in blight resistant American chestnuts

[Bucket]

Truly blight resistant American chestnuts with no Chinese cross-breeding may be available soon:

 

[TnBob]

That would be nice!

 

[BSK]

Fascinating.

 

[Ski]

That would be the nuckin futs!!!

 

[younggun308]

Need a Federal program to Johnny Appleseed those bad boys.

 

[DoubleRidge]

The one guy mentioned they may have approval by August 2023...hope this works out!! Would love to plant some!!

 

[BSK]

I would plant hundreds.

 

[MickThompson]

This would be a boon for wildlife but a nightmare for barefooted hippies across the historic range

 

[M T Pockets 000]

I have hoped and prayed for a true blight resistant American Chestnut in my life time. Maybe it will happen. I will plant a few trees

 

[Shooter77]

I hope this works, love to see these great American chestnuts return to glory!

Couple of videos on the American Chestnut

 

[Huntaholic]

I would plant them by the thousands! As a professional forester, NOTHING would make me happier than to replant every single property I cut in American Chestnuts!

 

[dg7080]

I have several Americans growing in containers. I hatched them last winter from nuts sent to me from the chestnut foundation.

I am to plant them in a test grove on my farm this winter and when the transgenic tree is approved, hopefully next year, they will supply me one to plant in the grove to cross pollinate with the pure American in hopes that a percentage of the offspring will be blight free.

We shall see...

 

[chestnut farmer]

Thats awesome !!! Been waiting to hear something like this ever since i first read about the american chestnut years ago.

 

[Popcorn]

I would plant hundreds.

Ditto

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Need a Federal program to Johnny Appleseed those bad boys.

Absolutely! Sign me up!

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I would plant hundreds.

Same here.

I have several Americans growing in containers. I hatched them last winter from nuts sent to me from the chestnut foundation.

I am to plant them in a test grove on my farm this winter and when the transgenic tree is approved, hopefully next year, they will supply me one to plant in the grove to cross pollinate with the pure American in hopes that a percentage of the offspring will be blight free.

We shall see...

The American Chestnut Foundation sent me 10 to grow from nuts last year. They came up to about 12", then died. I have a fairly good green thumb, but not one survived. Was kind on bummed.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I would plant hundreds.

Man, same here!

 

[dg7080]

Same here.

The American Chestnut Foundation sent me 10 to grow from nuts last year. They came up to about 12", then died. I have a fairly good green thumb, but not one survived. Was kind on bummed.

I had several die too, but have 4 survivors. They are about 15 inches or so tall. I plan on putting them out next month... I planted them in a mix of some cheap potting soil and soil from the farm here. Hopefully they will survive the transplant into their new home on the hill..

 

[dg7080]

Man, same here!

If the new transgenic tree project works, it will be years or decades before the forest would be once again home to the mature American chestnuts. But hopefully my grandkids and great grandkids will get to sit under their shade someday...

 

[JCDEERMAN]

If the new transgenic tree project works, it will be years or decades before the forest would be once again home to the mature American chestnuts. But hopefully my grandkids and great grandkids will get to sit under their shade someday...

And that's what it's all about. I'm 39, so I'd love to plant many of them and hopefully atleast be able to see them produce in my later years.