2024 Poster Session
Keller, N, S(1); Jeffers, S(2); Sisco, P; Van Clief, J(3); McKeever, K(4); Steinrueck, C(1), Griffin, E(1)
- Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Rd., Swannanoa, NC
- Clemson University, Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson, SC
- American Chestnut Foundation, 50 N Merrimon Ave #115, Asheville, NC
- U.S. Forest Service, 200 WT Weaver Blvd, Asheville, NC 28801
Abstract
The restoration of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), once a foundational species of
eastern North America, has been of great interest to scientists and organizations since its
functional extinction decades ago by two exotic plant diseases – chestnut blight and
Phytophthora root rot. Warren Wilson College (WWC) has used American/Chinese chestnut
hybrids as a mode of increasing resistance to blight, caused by Cryphonectria parasitica, and
root rot, caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi. Since 2001, over 300 hybrid chestnut seedlings
have been planted in WWC orchards, which have been monitored by scientists at the American
Chestnut Foundation (TACF) and Clemson University. In February 2024, 36 C. dentata seedlings
were used to establish a fungicide trial in a WWC orchard known to be infested with P.
cinnamomi. Seedlings were planted in a randomized complete block design to evaluate efficacy
of two commercially available fungicides (Ridomil Gold SL and Reliant) that target oomycete
pathogens like P. cinnamomi. Over the next 12-24 months, seedlings will be monitored regularly
for overall plant health and mortality by inspecting seedlings for above ground symptoms of root
rot. The overall goal of our research is to create and maintain a health monitoring program of C.
dentata at WWC.
