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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2 days ago
The Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation

Seeds collected from Anna Ruby Falls chestnuts. ... See MoreSee Less

Seeds collected from Anna Ruby Falls chestnuts.

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Nice!

A friend gave me a dunstan chestnut tree. Is that a good 1 to plant?

Chestnut harvest is progressing in Georgia, including harvests from pure American chestnuts at a few spots in the state. These photos show two chestnuts that have been growing at Anna Ruby Falls since the mid-1990s. They show odd blight cankers consisting of deep gnarled bark. This type of cankering is consistent with either some level of resistance in the host tree, infection with a less virulent (hypovirulent) form of the blight fungus, or both. Regardless of the malformation and periodic loss of limbs, these trees have remained alive and have produced at least some nuts every year for over a decade.

Seeds at this site were graciously collected by Anna Ruby Falls staff member Matt Summers. GA-TACF's Dr. Martin Cipollini and Kathy Patrick picked them up and shuttled them to Berry College for processing. Over 100 seeds were collected.

In order to save seeds for planting, we place them in ziplock bags in damp peat or sphagnum moss, poke some holes in the bags, and keep them in the refrigerator all fall and winter. By January or February the seeds will have sprouted roots and will be ready for planting. Unlike many other nut crops, chestnut seeds do not remain vital after drying out. The American Chestnut Foundation

Photos by Martin Cipollini and Kathy Patrick
... See MoreSee Less

Chestnut harvest is progressing in Georgia, including harvests from pure American chestnuts at a few spots in the state.  These photos show two chestnuts that have been growing at Anna Ruby Falls since the mid-1990s.  They show odd blight cankers consisting of deep gnarled bark.  This type of cankering is consistent with either some level of resistance in the host tree, infection with a less virulent (hypovirulent) form of the blight fungus, or both.  Regardless of the malformation and periodic loss of limbs, these trees have remained alive and have produced at least some nuts every year for over a decade. 

Seeds at this site were graciously collected by Anna Ruby Falls staff member Matt Summers.  GA-TACFs Dr. Martin Cipollini and Kathy Patrick picked them up and shuttled them to Berry College for processing.  Over 100 seeds were collected.

In order to save seeds for planting, we place them in ziplock bags in damp peat or sphagnum moss, poke some holes in the bags, and keep them in the refrigerator all fall and winter.  By January or February the seeds will have sprouted roots and will be ready for planting.  Unlike many other nut crops, chestnut seeds do not remain vital after drying out. The American Chestnut Foundation

Photos by Martin Cipollini and Kathy PatrickImage attachmentImage attachment+3Image attachment

9 CommentsComment on Facebook

A Large Surviving American!

Excellent work!

I would love to plant a few chestnuts on my property.

Phillip Hopkins

Can you buy a couple?

Jenn Schultz Gordon these were at Anna Ruby Falls!

I live in Ohio and have 70 acres how can I get a bunch of starts

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We looking to see if there might be volunteers in the Dawsonville general vicinity who might be interested in checking out three sites that were planted with chestnuts at Dawson Forest several years ago. We think +- 800 backcross hybrid chestnut trees were planted at each site (2500 total). The GA-DNR staff member who initiated the project has left, but he has shown us a map of where the trees should be. At this point, we’d just like to see if anyone is willing to get in contact with current GA-DNR staff members at Dawson Forest to get access to the sites to determine if substantial numbers of the planted trees remain. It would have to be done before leaves drop. If you might be interested, please let us know at gachestnut@gmail.com and we can forward your contact information to the appropriate people.

For general reference, see the attached map (Sites 1, 2 and 3). We can share more information and maps about each location as needed.
... See MoreSee Less

We looking to see if there might be volunteers in the Dawsonville general vicinity who might be interested in checking out three sites that were planted with chestnuts at Dawson Forest several years ago.  We think +- 800 backcross hybrid chestnut trees were planted at each site (2500 total).  The GA-DNR staff member who initiated the project has left, but he has shown us a map of where the trees should be.  At this point, we’d just like to see if anyone is willing to get in contact with current GA-DNR staff members at Dawson Forest to get access to the sites to determine if substantial numbers of the planted trees remain.  It would have to be done before leaves drop.  If you might be interested, please let us know at gachestnut@gmail.com and we can forward your contact information to the appropriate people.

For general reference, see the attached map (Sites 1, 2 and 3).  We can share more information and maps about each location as needed.

10 CommentsComment on Facebook

Thanks, everyone. We think we have rounded up a few folks to check these sites for us.

Very interested in helping! Sending email

I'm retired...can do it most any time.

I'm in.

Are they on the Dawson Forest part that is managed by the Georgia Forestry Georgia Forestry Commission or the part owned by GA DNR?

Ed Campbell and I live near Site 1 and may be able to help. Just emailed.

Betsy Sherrer Kiser I wonder if y'all are close enough to do this? Or someone else we know?

Pics from Site #3

Pics from site #2:

GA DNR Resource Manager here, I’m from Dawson and know those woods like the back of my hand. I can help if need be

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