Indiana News

Pure American chestnut harvest at Duke orchard

Duke orchard is a germplasm conservation orchard started with a generous contribution from Duke Energy Company. Many of the trees have produced nuts for a number of years. Some years pollen is applied in spring to produce controlled crosses. This year the trees were open pollinated which means that trees were pollinated by pollen from other chestnuts in the orchard without pollen from specific trees being applied to specific mother trees.

Today, October 6, 2022, volunteers and staff harvested the nuts that resulted from the open pollination. Caleb Kell, orchard staff, harvested chestnut burrs from the tall trees using a lift vehicle. Other volunteers performed the prickly task of removing the nuts from the burrs. These nuts will be stratified over the winter and grown into seedlings in spring at several locations. Many of these seedlings will be used as rootstock for grafting. When chestnut trees are found in the wild, small twigs, called scion wood, can be taken from the wild tree and grafted onto the rootstock and grown into mature chestnuts. Other nuts will be planted in germplasm conservation orchards. The genetic material of the Duke trees contains traits which will be very valuable in future breeding of blight resistant chestnuts.

Caleb Kell harvesting chestnut burrs from our tall trees.

Volunteer Claud Diehl removes the nuts from the painfully spiny burrs.

 

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Join us on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.

Special guests Duane McKenna and Michael Charles will discuss beetle evolution and the rediscovery of a lost species, the greater chestnut weevil.

Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-beetle-evolution-greater-chestnut-weevil/ to learn more and register.
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Join us on Friday, May 16, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.Special guests Duane McKenna and Michael Charles will discuss beetle evolution and the rediscovery of a lost species, the greater chestnut weevil.Visit https://tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-beetle-evolution-greater-chestnut-weevil/ to learn more and register.

Planting season is here! This week we planted around 140 genomically selected chestnut seedlings at Meadowview's Duncan Farm for seed orchard production. In 5–7 years, this new seed orchard will be used for breeding and collecting open-pollinated seeds to continually improve disease resistance among our trees. Exciting roots for the future!

#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms
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Planting season is here! This week we planted around 140 genomically selected chestnut seedlings at Meadowviews Duncan Farm for seed orchard production. In 5–7 years, this new seed orchard will be used for breeding and collecting open-pollinated seeds to continually improve disease resistance among our trees. Exciting roots for the future! #americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms

4 CommentsComment on Facebook

out of five trees, I have only one that has survived. Two due to cold killing the tops (16-21 degrees) and two I think killed by squirrels or gophers.

Awesome!! 🥰

I wrote to you recently and we have one out here in Oregon City OR. In the middle of our woods we just logged. It was planted about 1890. We are mailing out a sample today for you.

We're hiring and the deadline is this weekend! Head to jobs.talenthr.io/tacf/nursery-manager/4 to learn more. ... See MoreSee Less

Were hiring and the deadline is this weekend! Head to https://jobs.talenthr.io/tacf/nursery-manager/4 to learn more.

Carolina friends, please join us on May 3rd!

Where: Pryor Orchard in Edneyville, NC - Address and additional details will be provided after you sign up and fill out a waiver.

When: Saturday, May 3rd 2025 at 10:00AM.

Bring: Closed toe shoes (no crocs, sorry!), gloves, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, water and a snack or lunch.

Spots are limited, visit theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90477 to sign up.

For more information, please contact:
Regional Science Coordinator Jamie Van Clief: gro.fcat@feilcnav.eimaj
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Carolina friends, please join us on May 3rd! Where: Pryor Orchard in Edneyville, NC - Address and additional details will be provided after you sign up and fill out a waiver.When: Saturday, May 3rd 2025 at 10:00AM.Bring: Closed toe shoes (no crocs, sorry!), gloves, hat, sunscreen, bug spray, water and a snack or lunch.Spots are limited, visit https://theamericanchestnutfoundation.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=90477 to sign up.For more information, please contact:Regional Science Coordinator Jamie Van Clief: jamie.vanclief@tacf.org

Two American chestnut hybrids showing off their early spring leaves. These trees were planted about 10 years ago behind Lucy Herring Elementary in West Asheville. ... See MoreSee Less

Two American chestnut hybrids showing off their early spring leaves. These trees were planted about 10 years ago behind Lucy Herring Elementary in West Asheville.Image attachmentImage attachment

2 CommentsComment on Facebook

Approximately how tall are the trees?

🤞

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