Georgia News

GA-TACF Science Progress 2022

2022 was a very productive year for the Georgia chapter of TACF and its many citizen volunteers.  Here is a quick summary of progress, starting with a summary of what we’ve been able to accomplish in the breeding program since 2006.

Seed type
Crosses
American chestnut C. dentata 123
F1 17
BC1 17
BC2 2
BC3 113
BC4 114
Chinese chestnut C. mollissima 31
Darling 58 (OXO) 7
Other (Quasi B1, C. henryi, C. pumila, etc.) 38
Total 
461
Summary of summer/fall 2022 breeding work:

11 backcross lines for blight resistance screening

4 backcross lines for Phytophthora root rot (PRR) resistance screening

4 backcross lines for both blight and PRR resistance screening

14 C. dentata or nearly 100% C. dentata lines for germplasm conservation

9 Asian lines for phylogenetic study of blight resistance

Total of 1234 seeds produced
Other key activities summer/fall/winter 2023

Grafting: Grafted 62 scions of pure C. dentata on C. mollissima root stock.  14 alive from 4 lines.  Also, scion material was sent to USFS for nut grafting (material from about 25 different C. dentata in GA was collected and sent in January 2023)

Pollen collection: Pollens collected, processed, and frozen from 27 trees (10 C. dentata, 14 “Best” backcross trees, and 3 F1s).

Best X Best crosses: While our Best X Best hand pollinations at UGA largely failed, our GA pollens were successfully used to produce at least seven crosses by the Tennessee chapter (more by Meadowview and CC chapters).

Small stem assays (SSAs): SSAs were completed on ~350 seedlings at Berry College (11 backcross lines plus controls). Small stem assay manuscript was published in Plant Disease (Conn, et al.). This Alternate SSA (AltSSA) method is beginning to be the standard for early blight screening in the TACF program. Winners going to Richards orchard.

Blight evaluations, orchard inoculations, and culling: Done at Roy Richards and Flint backcross seed orchards.

Tree mapping: Several new Castanea trees were catalogued and mapped, including one C. dentata in Oconee County and about 27 new C. dentata from recent TreeSnap observations.  See map here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1zVPTIqnrXk5PVFMa2Uz4K5kSZ4SRepc&ll=34.0926447786694%2C-83.66902105&z=7

Germplasm conservationC. dentata seedlings from 2021 crop are being distributed to various germplasm conservation orchards for planting winter 2022-23.  Embryos from GA trees were successfully cloned from several sources by the Merkle UGA lab and some lines have been successfully transformed with the OXO gene.

Breeding orchard plantings: Trees were added for PRR screening at Flint North Ridge site in October 2022. Trees are ready for planting at Roy Richards seed orchard in early 2023.

Miscellaneous other:

Phylogenetic study: Seeds from C. mollissima, C. henryi, and C. seguinii were harvested for a collaborative phylogenetic study being organized by Jared Westbrook at TACF.

Tree searching: Testing of protocol is underway for locating new C. dentata using drones (Jack Rogers).

DNA analysis: A few samples of leaves were taken from key trees for DNA analysis.

 

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Hot but productive time with last weekend's deer fence installation at UNG's Hurricane Creek chestnut orchard. Many thanks to all the volunteers and especially to Jack Rogers and Karrie Ann Fadroski for organizing and working all three mornings! The American Chestnut Foundation UNG - University of North Georgia ... See MoreSee Less

Hot but productive time with last weekends deer fence installation at UNGs Hurricane Creek chestnut orchard. Many thanks to all the volunteers and especially to Jack Rogers and Karrie Ann Fadroski for organizing and working all three mornings! The American Chestnut Foundation UNG - University of North GeorgiaImage attachmentImage attachment+6Image attachment

Hello Georgia Chestnut Enthusiasts! Another volunteer opportunity... this one is pretty urgent.

We need your help with an upgrade to our chestnut orchard in Dahlonega. Hurricane Creek is a collaborative project with the University of North Georgia Biology Department and is being used to test for resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi (black root rot disease). The orchard is progressing well, with over 100 trees in place, but we have been unsuccessful keeping the deer at bay with our electric fence. We have decided it's time to install a deer exclusion fence, similar that used at our Flint and Richards orchards. Please let us know if you can join us on for a morning shift or two to help install the fence - see dates and times. The fence goes up pretty easily and no special skills are needed. We'll provide all materials and tools, along with water and snacks.

If you can help out, please bring the following:

Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent.
Work gloves.
Water, sack lunch if desired.

Because of the heat, we'll get started each day at 8AM, and work until the heat runs us off.

Hurricane Creek is located on GA Highway 9, between Dawsonville and Dahlonega. The address is 3990 Dawsonville Hwy, Dahlonega GA, 30597. On Google Maps, maps.app.goo.gl/eTMeKLwPBEtqi2y76.

Below are the shifts for volunteers for the fence installation. Please use this link to sign up (orchard maintenance tab): theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90470

Friday, 7/25/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), site prep work, install corner posts, layout posts, clear brush in a few areas, relocate some of the existing electric fence.

Saturday, 7/26/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install posts, layout tarp between posts, install top polyline, install fence fabric, install bottom fabric anchors, install door.

Sunday, 7/27/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install bottom 2' mesh, finish up.

The American Chestnut Foundation
UNG - University of North Georgia
... See MoreSee Less

Hello Georgia Chestnut Enthusiasts!  Another volunteer opportunity... this one is pretty urgent.We need your help with an upgrade to our chestnut orchard in Dahlonega. Hurricane Creek is a collaborative project with the University of North Georgia Biology Department and is being used to test for resistance to Phytophthora cinnamomi (black root rot disease). The orchard is progressing well, with over 100 trees in place, but we have been unsuccessful keeping the deer at bay with our electric fence. We have decided its time to install a deer exclusion fence, similar that used at our Flint and Richards orchards. Please let us know if you can join us on for a morning shift or two to help install the fence - see dates and times. The fence goes up pretty easily and no special skills are needed. Well provide all materials and tools, along with water and snacks. If you can help out, please bring the following:Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent.Work gloves.Water, sack lunch if desired.Because of the heat, well get started each day at 8AM, and work until the heat runs us off.Hurricane Creek is located on GA Highway 9, between Dawsonville and Dahlonega. The address is 3990 Dawsonville Hwy, Dahlonega GA, 30597. On Google Maps, https://maps.app.goo.gl/eTMeKLwPBEtqi2y76.Below are the shifts for volunteers for the fence installation.  Please use this link to sign up (orchard maintenance tab): https://theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90470Friday, 7/25/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), site prep work, install corner posts, layout posts, clear brush in a few areas, relocate some of the existing electric fence.Saturday, 7/26/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install posts, layout tarp between posts, install top polyline, install fence fabric, install bottom fabric anchors, install door.Sunday, 7/27/2025, 8AM - noon(ish), install bottom 2 mesh, finish up.The American Chestnut FoundationUNG - University of North Georgia

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Work started today! Still a chance to volunteer for tomorrow or Sunday. Thanks!

We could really use some help with this folks! Please consider signing up for a shift. The work installing this type of fence is not that difficult, but we can definitely use some extra hands.

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