Chestnut Chat

Chestnut Chat Archives

Welcome to the Chestnut Chat Archives. Scroll down to browse a complete list of all previous Chestnut Chats or expand this directory to jump directly to a chat.

Chestnut Chat 52: September 20, 2024 -Assisting Evolution: The History of American Chestnut Breeding and New Innovations

Special guests Mike Aucott, John Scrivani, and Jared Westbrook discuss American chestnut breeding from the 1950s to the present, exploring various methods, goals, and the results that have been achieved.

Mike discusses the F1-F2-F3 Timber Type program and Large Surviving Americans (LSAs) established at Codorus State Park, PA. John covers the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station’s (CAES) Timber B1s and B2s, LSAs, and advance backcross tree planted at Lesesne State Forest in central Virginia. And Jared will discuss plans for TACF’s recurrent genomic selection program (RGS) and how we are using trees described by Mike and John to supplement populations of backcross trees located among TACF’s network of growers.

Chestnut Chat 51: August 16, 2024 – Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change

Special guests Tony D’Amato, Pete Clark, and Tim Stout will discuss the role of the American chestnut in forest management strategies that address the impacts of climate change and invasive insects and pathogens on eastern forests.

Tony will provide an overview of the frameworks and approaches under evaluation, Pete will discuss research applications, and Tim will bring it to a landowner scale by examining the strategies being tested and applied on his farm in Shrewsbury, Vermont.

Chestnut Chat 50: July 19, 2024 – Inspiring the Next Generation

Look back at 50 episodes of all things chestnut and look forward to the future of chestnut restoration, including an interview with 11-year-old Russel Boyer, who has perfect Chestnut Chat attendance. Chat with freshly retired former CEO Lisa Thomson, under whose leadership Chestnut Chat began, and join Catherine Martini, TACF’s Northern Regional Outreach Coordinator who will interview educators from Maine and West Virginia about using the story of the American chestnut to inspire the next generation of conservationists.

Chestnut Chat 49: May 17, 2024 – European Chestnuts: Impressions of Natural Stands

Dr Fred Paillet will discuss a fascinating mystery in the distribution of the European chestnut: was it native to Western Europe or brought in by the Romans? If it was native, how did it survive glacial advances? Join Fred as he recounts his firsthand experience with the European chestnut tree in the Caucasus Mountains and Mount Etna, and how it has been impacted by the arrival of chestnut blight on the European continent.

Chestnut Chat 48: Apr 19, 2024 – How to Grow Chestnuts

Ready to get your hands dirty? Let’s talk about growing chestnuts! In this episode, we will cover all the basics of planting, growing, and maintaining American chestnut trees. TACF staff and experts will talk about how to plant chestnuts from seed and from seedlings, including bareroot and containerized seedlings. Bring your questions and don’t miss this Chestnut Chat that is sure to become an instant classic.

Chestnut Chat 47: Mar 15, 2024 – The Assertion-Evidence Approach to Scientific Presentations

As chestnut enthusiasts, we often find ourselves sharing complex information with friends, family, and strangers. The good news is that science presentations don’t have to be boring or ineffective! In this episode, Penn State’s Michael Alley will speak about a better way; the assertion-evidence approach. In this approach, a speaker builds the talk on key messages supported by visual evidence. Michael’s research has found that assertion-evidence talks are more focused and much better understood by audiences. In addition, speakers using this method (even those initially nervous about making presentations) report that using the assertion-evidence approach has given them more confidence. Join us to learn how to step up your science presentation game!

Chestnut Chat 46: Feb 16, 2024 – Evolution of Castanea and Cryphonectria

In this edition, Dr. Joanna Malukiewicz discusses the interplay in the evolution of Castanea and the chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica). Listen in to learn about the fascinating history of ancient natural hybridization among chestnut species across East Asia, Europe, and North America, and whether or not hybridization has played a role in the relative blight resistance or susceptibility of the extant chestnut species.

Chestnut Chat 45: Jan 19, 2024 – Science Strategy Update, Part 2

Part 2 of this special Chestnut Chat series outlines the next steps after TACF’s decision to discontinue development of the Darling line of transgenic American chestnut trees. TACF employs a diversified approach to American chestnut restoration and collaborates with a wide variety of research partners. Science staff and guest panelists will share the many exciting research initiatives already underway and the role they will play in TACF’s mission to develop a disease-resistant and restoration-worthy American chestnut tree.

Chestnut Chat 44: Dec 15, 2023 – Darling 58 & Science Strategy Update, Part 1

Topic:

TACF has decided to discontinue development of the Darling 58 transgenic American chestnut tree. In Part 1 of our two-part Chestnut Chat, panelists will present the performance data, explain the implications for restoration, and answer frequently asked questions about this important shift in our science strategy. Visit the Darling 58 page for current information. In Part 2 on January 19, 2024, we’ll discuss the many exciting alternatives already underway and the next steps toward safe and effective American chestnut restoration

Chestnut Chat 43: Nov 17, 2023 – Mineland Reclamation

Topic:

This chat will provide an overview of the history of surface mining reclamation, the reforestation of surface mines, and how the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative and Green Forests Work (GFW) are implementing techniques that expedite the establishment of healthy, diverse, native forests on former surface mines. The chat will also discuss GFW’s progress, recent projects, and how the restoration of degraded lands can play a role in restoring forest types and species that have undergone declines, such as American chestnut.

Chestnut Chat 42: Oct 20, 2023 – Student Flash Talks

Topic:

This Chestnut Chat highlights student work through a series of flash talks. A virtual poster session will follow, and all are welcome to participate – student and professional alike. The event will be hosted by Kendra Collins, TACF’s Director of Regional Programs. We hope you will join us! 

Chestnut Chat 41: Sept 15, 2023 – Darling 58 Update

Topic:

TACF’s Chief Conservation Officer Sara Fitzsimmons and SUNY-ESF’s American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project researcher Andy Newhouse, along with others, will share the latest updates about the current status of the Darling 58 transgenic American chestnut. There has been a lot of excitement around the potential release of this tree, and recent regulatory delays and additional restrictions for distribution may reduce the ability for everyone to get seed, seedlings, or pollen as swiftly as originally hoped. In this Chestnut Chat, we’ll go through some frequently asked questions, then give participants an opportunity to ask their own questions related to Darling 58.

Chestnut Chat 40: June 16, 2023 – Documentary Film: Clear Day Thunder

Topic:

TACF is thrilled to announce that its long-anticipated documentary film CLEAR DAY THUNDER: Rescuing the American Chestnut is a wrap! This 53-minute film highlights the story of the tree’s exceptional significance, the people determined to save it, and its promising future.

This will be the topic of our next LIVE Chestnut Chat on Friday, June 16 at 11:30AM (EST). We’ll be joined by TACF’s Director of Communications Jules Smith to discuss the making of and goals for the film and by filmmaker Rod Murphy of Collective Projects to answer questions related to creative development. We will also be joined by Mari Peterson of Marketing Outpost who, along with her team, has played an invaluable role in the success of this project and is coordinating screenings. She will share information about the film’s website, how to host a screening, promotional materials, special screenings for supporters, and future rollout plans at public and private venues and festivals.

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Chestnut Chat 39: May 19, 2023 – Chestnut Pollen Collection, Processing & Storage

Topic: This Chestnut Chat focuses on the steps, methods, and processes of gathering and storing chestnut pollen. Join Hannah Pilkey of SUNY-ESF, and Cassie Stark and Eric Jenkins of TACF as they discuss the biology of male flowers, timing of catkin emergence and anthesis, and the techniques used to gather and store pollen for both the current season and for future use.

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Chestnut Chat 38: April 21, 2023 – dentataBase Training

Topic: This month we take a departure from TACF’s usual format to bring you a dentataBase training session, led by Chief Conservation Officer (and Chestnut Chat host), Sara Fitzsimmons, and Regional Science Coordinator supervisor, Kendra Collins. With Darling 58 deregulation on the horizon, we will be using TACF’s online database, aptly named dentataBase, to track many aspects of our scientific program. But dentataBase isn’t just for TACF scientists – it has some great tools available to members too. Join us to learn how to enter small, backyard plantings, create crosses, and even how we track and follow wild tree reports. If you have small plantings to enter, or are just curious how you might interact with this system, please join us for this focused tutorial.

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Chestnut Chat 37: March 17, 2023 – 2022 Fall Symposium Student Poster Session Participants

Topic: In this edition of Chestnut Chat, TACF invites poster contest winners and participants from the 2022 Annual Symposium to recap their work in front of a larger audience. We are excited to be joined by three young scientists from partnering academic institutions. We hope you will join us to welcome Trish Nguyen of UT-Chattanooga, Kaitlyn Harden of UT-Chattanooga, and Morgan Dupree Wingo of Berry College.

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Chestnut Chat 36: January 20, 2023 – Town Hall – Welcome Back!

Topic: TACF Staff members Lisa Thomson, president & CEO; Sara Fitzsimmons, chief conservation officer; and Kendra Collins, regional science coordinator (RSC) manager & New England RSC, share a number of exciting updates during this month’s Chat. Topics include the launch of TACF’s documentary film on Earth Day 2023, the current USDA public comment period, and plans for in-person educational opportunities. In addition, Andy Newhouse and Adriana Del Grosso from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) share an update on the latest deregulation status of the Darling 58 transgenic American chestnut. They are also involved in the public comment period discussion.

[Click here to watch]

Chestnut Chat 35: April 15, 2022 – Habitat Suitability

Topic:  April’s Chestnut Chat covered Habitat Modeling for American chestnut. Jennifer Santoro, a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment at Villanova University, and Alec Henderson, a senior at Villanova University with a major in Environmental Science and a minor in Computer Science led this discussion.  Together they described their research for modeling and mapping suitable chestnut habitat in Pennsylvania and showed how analyses like this can be useful for chestnut restoration efforts. Jen and Alec also discussed research to model and map suitable chestnut habitat in Pennsylvania and show how analyses like this can be useful for chestnut restoration efforts.

[Click Here to Watch]

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Chestnut Chat 34: March 18, 2022 – How to Obtain, Grow, and Manage American Chestnuts

Topic: In March we covered a favorite topic for all of us – planting American chestnuts!  TACF staff shared information about different seed and seedling programs, annual seed and seedling distribution, how to plant and care for this special tree, and much more.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 33: February 18, 2022 – Cold Tolerance

Topic:  February’s Chestnut Chat covered cold tolerance and regional adaptability in American chestnut. Dr. Paul Schaberg, a research plant physiologist with the U.S. Forest Service, mentored two TACF Regional Science Coordinators: Kendra Collins and Tom Saielli. Under his tutelage at the University of Vermont, they helped to install, maintain, and conduct research on American chestnut provenance trails in Vermont’s Green Mountain Forest.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 32: January 21, 2022 – Evolution of the Genus Castanea

Topic:  Evolution of the genus Castanea, presented by Taylor Perkins, research associate, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). Taylor shared a high-level view of evolution and migration of the genus Castanea across the world, starting in China and moving finally into the United States. Taylor has been studying the relationships and divergence of chinkapin and chestnuts in the eastern U.S. for over a decade. Working with Dr. Hill Craddock at UTC, he was recently awarded a TACF external grant to further delve into the mysteries of Ozark chinkapin origin.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 31: December 17, 2021 – Phytophthora cinnamomi and the American chestnut

Topic: Phytophthora cinnamomi and American chestnut. Presenters Steve Jeffers, Professor of Plant Pathology & Extension Specialist, Ornamental Crops & Trees at Clemson University, and Katie McKeever, USDA Forest Service Bent Creek Resistance Screening Center Director,  discuss their research and findings involving Phytophthora cinnamomi, also known as black ink disease, in American chestnut.

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Chestnut Chat 30: November 19, 2021 – Restoration of Pine Savannah Ecosystems

Topic:  Don’t Let Perfection Be the Enemy of Good – Lessons from Longleaf Pine Savanna Restoration. Presenters Zach Prusak (Tall Timbers Research Station), Chris Matson (Florida Park Service), and Walt Thomson and Chaz Oliver (The Nature Conservancy) will look at the Longleaf Pine Savanna restoration process as an analogy for American chestnut restoration. While this is not an apples-to-apples comparison, the Chat will focus on how we can perceive this gigantic undertaking: Are there out-of-the-box perspectives that can be incorporated into the journey towards American chestnut restoration? What roadblocks and bottlenecks were encountered amidst Longleaf Pine Savanna restoration and how were those overcome?

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 29: October 15, 2021 – Genomic Selection

Topic: Genomic Sequencing 101 and the Genome of American Chestnut. People often ask, “Have you considered gene editing to enhance disease resistance in American chestnut?” For gene editing to become a possibility we need to know what to edit. TACF Director of Science Jared Westbrook discussed the foundational research being pursued to enable gene editing. Additionally, Nathan Cude, senior scientist at Novozymes North America and project leader in microbial discovery, covered the basics of DNA from its structure to its role in the cell to its sequencing and explains why genome sequences are so important to the modern biologist.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 28: September 17, 2021 – Wood Identification & Differential Wood Properties

Topic:  Charles David Ray, associate professor of ecosystem science and management at Penn State University, discusses identification and properties of chestnut wood.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 27: August 20, 2021 – Participatory Chestnut Breeding

Topic:  Ron Revord, assistant research professor, University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry,  and Greg Miller, owner of Empire Chestnut Company, founder of Route 9 Cooperative, and prior board member of TACF, tackle what is involved in establishing a network to characterize genetic diversity and ancestry of on-farm germplasm.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 26: July 16, 2021 – Chestnut Chat, Emerging and Evolving Threats to Chestnut Health

Topic:  Who has time to worry about blight? There are other issues impacting chestnut, including Gnomoniopsis and gall wasp. Emily Dobry, M.S. candidate in horticulture at Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, and Carol Mapes, a Biology Professor and former Chair of the Kutztown University Biology Department, will discuss these and other challenges we strive to tackle when working with chestnut.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 25: June 18, 2021 – Controlled Pollinations

Topic:  Thomas Klak, ME-TACF Chapter Gene Conservation Committee Chair and Professor at University of New England, and Dakota Matthews, molecular lab manager with the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project, present Controlled Pollinations: High Light and “Speed Breeding.”

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 24: May 21, 2021 – Site Selection and Planting American Chestnuts

Topic:  TACF Director of Restoration Sara Fern Fitzsimmons will cover the basics of proper site selection, how to find the right spot for putting in a chestnut, as well as how to get them planted.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 23: April 16, 2021 – Cruddy Bark and the Complex World of Blight Cankers

Topic:  Mark Double, WV-TACF chapter president and Laurel Rogers, honors program director and associate professor of biology at Shenandoah University discuss Cruddy Bark and the Complex World of Blight Cankers. Double discusses the blight fungus, how it spreads, canker formation, and spore production. Rogers focuses on identifying what beneficial fungi live under the healthy bark of different chestnut species prior to C. parasitica infection.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 22: March 19, 2021 – Exploring Big Questions for American Chestnut Restoration

Topic: Explore big questions, such as what makes a native plant native? Why is American chestnut restoration important? Who and what will benefit from the tree’s restoration? We will tackle all questions associated with American chestnut restoration, and other restoration projects. Staff, members, and volunteers often face these questions and, rather than a single answer, there is often a spectrum of possibilities.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 21: February 19, 2021 – Historic Importations and Chestnut Cultivars

Topic:  Retired plant pathologist Sandra Anagnostakis covers the history of chestnut importation and cultivar development. Chestnut grower Michael Nave discusses the breeding and selection process of “big name” cultivars, which many people encounter when looking for commercially available chestnut varieties.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 20: January 15, 2021 – Biocontrol: Chestnut Blight and Hypovirulence

Topic:  Learn about the underlying biology of the blight fungus and what’s being done to make it sick using a virus. Amy Metheny of West Virginia University will give us a crash course on the causal organism of chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica, as well as the phenomenon known as hypovirulence, wherein the fungus is infected by a virus.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 19: December 11, 2020 – Chestnut Science Town Hall

Topic:  Our final Chestnut Chat of 2020 involves a town hall style panel of lead scientists from TACF and SUNY-ESF.  Panelists includes TACF’s Jared Westbrook, Sara Fitzsimmons, Tom Saielli, Kendra Collins; and Andy Newhouse from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 18: November 13, 2020 – Cloning and embryogenesis

Topic: Scott Merkle, Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, talks about the current status of research to develop scalable clonal propagation systems for American chestnut and hybrid chestnuts, including macro- and micropropagation systems.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 17: October 30, 2020 – Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) 101

Topic: Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) has become the go-to method for detecting genetic variation (heritability) that affects the variation we observe in traits within a species. David Kainer, staff scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, explains how GWAS works and how to make sense of the results.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 16: October 16, 2020 – Cooking with chestnuts

Topic:  Cool autumn weather invites warm seasonal dishes. In this session about cooking with chestnuts, you’ll hear about everything from best roasting methods to making delicious savory and sweet recipes.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 15: October 2, 2020 – Chestnut Pests and Pathogens

Topic:  Erin Lizotte, pest educator at Michigan State University, covers pests and pathogens that impact chestnut, and discusses issues that plague the trees and how to best manage them.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 14: September 18, 2020 – Chestnut Harvest and Storage

Topic:  Chestnut Harvest and Storage presented by Kendra Collins, TACF’s New England Regional Science Coordinator and Eric Jenkins, Meadowview Tree Breeding Coordinator.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 13: September 4, 2020 – Public Comment Period

Topic:  TACF and SUNY-ESF hosts a workshop on The Public Comment Period.

Comment Period Closed on Monday, October 19, 2020

[Recording unavailable]

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Chestnut Chat 12: August 21, 2020 – Metabolomics 101

Topic:  Dr. Jeanne Romero-Severson presents a virtual workshop on Metabolomics 101.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 11: August 7, 2020 – American chestnut restoration and reintroduction plantings

Topic:  USFS Research Forester Stacy Clark shares results from 10+ years of ground-breaking research involving large-scale forest reintroduction of American chestnut.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 10: July 24, 2020 – Plant pathology for non-plant pathologists

Topic:  Plant Pathology for Non-Plant Pathologists presented by Bruce Levine, board director for the MD-TACF Chapter

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 9: July 10, 2020 – Pollination workshop at ESF – video with Q&A

Topic:  A virtual Pollination Workshop presented by researchers at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 8: June 26, 2020 – Drones

Topic: Using Drones to Benefit American Chestnut Restoration, featuring Alex Young of Dropcopter (a company that uses drones to pollinate crops), and TACF Chapter members Brian Clark and Clark Beebe who share their experiences using drones to locate and pollinate chestnut trees.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 7: June 12, 2020 – The hunt for wild American chestnut trees

Topic: TACF’s Mid-Atlantic and Southern Regional Science Coordinator Tom Saielli offers a workshop on finding and conserving American chestnuts in the wild.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 6: May 29, 2020 – Grafting Workshop

Topic: The Art of Grafting features Dr. Hill Craddock, TN-TACF Chapter President and Steve Hoy, Penn State Orchard Manager. Both will offer tips and discuss the successes and challenges of grafting.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 5: May 15, 2020 – Meet chestnut enthusiast Chuck Leavell – yes that Chuck Leavell

Topic: A conversation with Chuck Leavell, rock-n-roll keyboardist and chestnut enthusiast.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 4: May 8, 2020 – Meadowview Research Farms

Topic: Enjoy a visual presentation by staff at TACF’s Meadowview Research Farms in Virginia.

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 3: May 1, 2020 – Transgenic American chestnut tree

Topic: Meet TACF’s scientific research partners at SUNY’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry and learn about the transgenic tree..

[Click here to watch]

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Chestnut Chat 2: April 24, 2020 – Happy Earthday! Meet our Volunteers

Topic: National Volunteer Week and Earth Day: TACF Volunteers Share Their Stories

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Chestnut Chat 1: April 17, 2020 – State of TACF in the age of COVID

Topic: Meet TACF’s President & CEO and the Science Leadership Team

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