Savage River State Forest Orchard
On May 27, 2021, 17 wild American chestnuts were planted in the Peapatch Lane orchard in Garrett County. These seedlings join another group of about 20 trees planted two years earlier. These seedlings are part of the Maryland Chapter’s germ plasm preservation effort that is part of TACF’s effort to develop a blight resistant American chestnut hybrid. These seedlings will require about a decade to reach sufficient maturity to bloom and have nuts. By that time the parents of these trees will likely have succumbed to the blight. Wild American chestnuts are relatively common in western Maryland, but the vast majority of these trees are small understory trees with little chance to grow sufficiently to bloom and have nuts. And the majority of the trees that do have nuts are not in easily accessible locations. By creating germ plasm orchards with better access and growing conditions than in the wild, the Chapter hopes to have an important source of wild American mother trees for the next generation of hybridization.
Maryland Chapter Menu
National Facebook
The USDA has announced its desire to shut down or repurpose the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), putting TACF’s important chestnut orchard at risk.
This orchard is especially valuable because the trees are growing in soil naturally affected by Phytophthora root rot (PRR), allowing researchers to evaluate disease resistance under real-world conditions. It includes predominantly American chestnut hybrids that have shown promising resistance and could soon provide a vital source of seed for restoration efforts.
We are asking members and volunteers to contact their representatives in Congress and urge continued access to BARC to help preserve this irreplaceable research and restoration resource.
#americanchestnut #contactcongress #calltoaction #conservation #environment
14 CommentsComment on Facebook
I hope they keep it open. These orchard are so important for forest restoration efforts. I created one for Butternut.
who do we contact - and yes it would be great to us government funding back because that is also mia
So where do we now send Bee samples for disease confirmation?
It was so much fun to get out and nature and be a part of a community. Volunteer and check out events with your state Chapter to see what you have been missing!
Click the link in our bio to visit the "Volunteer" and "Events Calendar" links under "Get Engaged"
#explore #getinvolved #volunteer #americanchestnut #conservation
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Excellent, Maryland TACF, Maryland Maryland Chestnut Festival
Have you been wanting to learn more about chestnut blight? I thought so!
Check out the article: www.aol.com/lifestyle/orange-gashes-tree-bark-023000711.html
#americanchestnut #explore #restoration #nature #news
1 CommentComment on Facebook
That's just Bigfoot pruning around