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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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

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Approximately how tall are the trees?

Maryland Friends!

The spring meeting of The Maryland Chapter of the American Chestnut
Foundation will be at the Gaithersburg Library, Meeting Room 3 on Saturday,
April 26, from 10:30 – 2:30. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The meeting will begin with an update on the TACF chestnut restoration program. Our featured speaker will be Donald Edward Davis, scholar, former Fulbright fellow, and author of The American Chestnut, An Environmental History. The American chestnut tells the story of the American chestnut from Native American prehistory through present day efforts to restore the American
chestnut to its former place in the eastern deciduous forest.

You do not want to miss this presentation and discussion!

Visit the link to learn more and register! tacf.org/event/maryland-chapter-spring-meeting-5/
... See MoreSee Less

Happy National Volunteer Week! 🌿

We're sending a heartfelt thank you to all the amazing volunteers who show up, dig in, and make a real difference. Your passion and dedication help us grow stronger every day—thank you for being part of the movement!

#volunteerweek #americanchestnut
... See MoreSee Less

Happy National Volunteer Week! 🌿 Were sending a heartfelt thank you to all the amazing volunteers who show up, dig in, and make a real difference. Your passion and dedication help us grow stronger every day—thank you for being part of the movement!#volunteerweek #americanchestnut

It's time for an update on the Recurrent Genomic Selection (RGS) process. Staff and volunteers, including Hannah and Christine from our Asheville office, have been diligently collecting leaf tissue samples from seedlings produced by our first RGS crosses, which were carried out in the summer of 2024. Last week, each tree was tagged for identification, ensuring accurate tracking throughout the genotyping process. The DNA from these samples will be sequenced, and the resulting data will directly inform and enhance our ongoing breeding program.

#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms
... See MoreSee Less

Its time for an update on the Recurrent Genomic Selection (RGS) process. Staff and volunteers, including Hannah and Christine from our Asheville office, have been diligently collecting leaf tissue samples from seedlings produced by our first RGS crosses, which were carried out in the summer of 2024. Last week, each tree was tagged for identification, ensuring accurate tracking throughout the genotyping process. The DNA from these samples will be sequenced, and the resulting data will directly inform and enhance our ongoing breeding program.#americanchestnut #castaneadentata #americanchestnutfoundation #meadowviewresearchfarms

Join us tomorrow, Friday, April 18, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.

Got questions about growing chestnuts or tips to share? Join us for the Chestnut Growers Town Hall! Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting, this event is your chance to connect, share insights, and learn from experts. Ask your questions on topics like site selection, soil nutrition, varmint control, and more. Our expert panel will answer questions and share their top growing tips. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the chestnut restoration community!

Visit tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-chestnut-growers-town-hall/ for more info and to register.
... See MoreSee Less

Join us tomorrow, Friday, April 18, 2025, from 11:30AM – 1:00PM (EPT), for the next LIVE Chestnut Chat.Got questions about growing chestnuts or tips to share? Join us for the Chestnut Growers Town Hall! Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting, this event is your chance to connect, share insights, and learn from experts. Ask your questions on topics like site selection, soil nutrition, varmint control, and more. Our expert panel will answer questions and share their top growing tips. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the chestnut restoration community!Visit https://tacf.org/event/chestnut-chat-chestnut-growers-town-hall/ for more info and to register.
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