American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), Phytophthora, and Fungicides: Planting and Monitoring Seedlings at a Warren Wilson College Orchard – Keller et al.

Published October 14, 2024

2024 Poster Session

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Keller, N, S(1); Jeffers, S(2); Sisco, P; Van Clief, J(3); McKeever, K(4); Steinrueck, C(1), Griffin, E(1)

  1. Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Rd., Swannanoa, NC
  2. Clemson University, Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson, SC
  3. American Chestnut Foundation, 50 N Merrimon Ave #115, Asheville, NC
  4. U.S. Forest Service, 200 WT Weaver Blvd, Asheville, NC 28801
Poster: American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), Phytophthora, and Fungicides: Planting and Monitoring Seedlings at a Warren Wilson College Orchard – Keller et al. 2024

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.

Sara Fitzsimmons in 2005 with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, Dr Robert Gregg

2005
Sara Fern Fitzsimmons with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, & Dr Robert Gregg

2006, Sara Fitzsimmons pollinates at Stockers

2006
Sara pollinating at Stockers, PA

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood, MD

Sara at the 25th Annual TACF meeting

2008
Sara at the 25th Annual TACF Meeting

Sara and the Graves tree

2009
Sara in the PSU Graves Orchard

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons in the Glenn Swank stump, 2009

2009
Sara in the Glenn Swank stump, PA

Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium, 2012

2012
Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium

Sara in Vermont

2014
Sara with Harmony Dalgleish and the Berlin American chestnut in Vermont

Kendra and Sara in the field

Sara and Kendra Collins working in the field

Sara presenting at the 2022 TACF Spring Meeting

2022
Sara presenting at TACF’s Spring Meeting

Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

2023
Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons

2024
Sara in the Penn State greenhouses