Natural pollen dispersal and the effect of controlled burns in American chestnut restoration — Maya Niesz Kutsch 

Published October 17, 2023

2023 Poster Session

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Maya Niesz Kutsch and Dr. Andrew Newhouse

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, New York

Poster by Maya Niesz Kutsch

Abstract

With the development and probable deregulation of Darling 58, a transgenic blight resistant line of American chestnut trees, it will become possible to begin restoration of these trees to their natural habitat. However, ecological research of C. dentata has been limited by their century-long absence. We will be investigating both the pollination characteristics of American chestnut, and its tolerance of fire. A pollination distance study has been established to determine the viable pollination distance of American chestnuts. This includes a central plot of pollen releasing trees, and spokes of pollen receiving trees. The number of fertilized burs created at increasing distances will show the effective pollination distance of American chestnuts. This will elucidate the optimal planting distances for American chestnuts in restoration plantings. American chestnuts are suggested in the literature to be tolerant of fire. We will be burning American chestnut seedlings that have been planted in controlled burn plots. Plots will be burned in either fall or spring, and there are also planted controls which will not be burned. We will determine the seedlings’ survivability and re-sprouting capabilities.

Keywords: Restoration, pollen, pollination, fire, controlled burn.

Sara Fitzsimmons in 2005 with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, Dr Robert Gregg

2005
Sara Fern Fitzsimmons with Jim Gage, Dr Phil Arnold, & Dr Robert Gregg

2006, Sara Fitzsimmons pollinates at Stockers

2006
Sara pollinating at Stockers, PA

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood

Sara rating cankers at Thorpewood, MD

Sara at the 25th Annual TACF meeting

2008
Sara at the 25th Annual TACF Meeting

Sara and the Graves tree

2009
Sara in the PSU Graves Orchard

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons in the Glenn Swank stump, 2009

2009
Sara in the Glenn Swank stump, PA

Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium, 2012

2012
Sara at the International Chestnut Symposium

Sara in Vermont

2014
Sara with Harmony Dalgleish and the Berlin American chestnut in Vermont

Kendra and Sara in the field

Sara and Kendra Collins working in the field

Sara presenting at the 2022 TACF Spring Meeting

2022
Sara presenting at TACF’s Spring Meeting

Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

2023
Sara (in the rocker) with TACF staff at the Fall Meeting

Sara Fern Fitzsimmons

2024
Sara in the Penn State greenhouses