Commonly Asked Questions
1) How can I help the American Chestnut Foundation?
The most valuable resource that is needed is your time. The Tennessee chapter needs people to assist with writing newsletters, organizing meetings, and spreading the word. There is also a constant need for locating ‘mother’ trees, which are native, bur-producing pure American chestnut trees. We are recruiting dedicated growers as well to tend the program’s vital backcross orchards. Monetary gifts to the chapter and National organization also allow for the continuation and expansion of programs such as the mother tree breeding program and supplies for the backcross orchards. To join us please CLICK HERE (http://www.acf.org/join.htm) to print out a membership form.
2) If I find an American chestnut tree, whom do I contact?
The chapter is especially interested in flowering American chestnut trees, but we are also collecting field data such as GPS location and associated tree species on nearly all wild American chestnut trees. The first step is to mail a twig and leaf sample to Dr. Paul Sisco so he can verify that it is an American chestnut. Please press the leaf/twig sample overnight in a telephone book and mail it dry between thin cardboard. Include your telephone number and email address for a quick reply. Dr. Sisco’s address is:
Dr. Paul H. Sisco
The American Chestnut Foundation
One Oak Plaza, Suite 308
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 281-0047
Email: paul@acf.org
Paul also has an excellent website for illustrating the differences between American chestnut and related species which can be found by CLICKING HERE (www.mindspring.com/%7Epsisco/www/overview.html). If you locate a rare flowering American chestnut, you may provide the chapter with one of the 20 American lines necessary to creating a viable breeding population that captures much of the local genetic diversity.
3) Where can I buy American chestnut trees and seed?
This is our most common question. The truth is that there are no blight-resistant American chestnut trees available to the public at present. Producing such trees is the goal of the Foundation. Please CLICK HERE (www.acf.org/seeds_seedlings.htm) to order pure, blight-susceptible American chestnut seeds or seedlings from the American Chestnut Foundation. This site also has a link to other suppliers of chestnut seed. Usually these pure American chestnut trees will become infected with the blight after a few years of growth. Note that American chestnut seed cannot be frozen or it will kill the embryo. The nuts are generally packed in moist peat moss and refrigerated a few months before germination.
Even more exciting is the opportunity to grow advanced backcross (BC) hybrids harvested from local mother trees. Selected individuals of these trees will be the grandparents of the trees to be planted across the state to establish blight-resistant chestnut trees in the wild. Because one parent of the BC trees was a pure American, the offspring are at best only moderately blight resistant. On average, one in eight of the BC hybrids will be moderately resistant. The BC trees are inoculated with blight when several years old to determine which trees have moderate blight resistance. When the moderately resistant BC trees are finally intercrossed, some of the BCF2 offspring will be strongly blight resistant. Then when two BCF2 offspring are crossed, the BCF3 offspring should breed true for blight resistance and be adapted to regional conditions. The chapter has just started backcross orchards within the last two years and is always looking for dedicated growers.
4) How do I start a backcross orchard?
The first thing you need is a good area to grow chestnut trees. We need you to commit at least ½ acre to grow trees for a period of 10 years. This must be a well-drained, fertile site you can reach easily and protect from deer. Chestnut trees do not do well in heavy, clay soils. Many people are willing to loan their land but there is a greater need for people willing to donate their time and labor. The landowner will need to sign and mail two copies of a Germplasm Agreement before growing any TACF blight resistant hybrids. CLICK HERE (http://www.acf.org/RABP25rt.pdf) to download a copy of the Germplasm Agreement. Next, potential growers need to plant some pure American chestnut seedlings to test the ground for ink disease (Phytophthora cinnamomi), another imported Asiatic fungus that thrives in wet or poorly-drained soil. If you notify us prior to attending the winter meeting, usually someone can bring American chestnut trees for you to plant. A soil test, which can be obtained through the local Farmers Co-op, is also beneficial to determine essential soil treatments.
TACF backcross hybrid seed or seedlings will be provided to growers who successfully grow pure American chestnut trees. Chestnut seed are usually planted in early March after the hard freezes which will kill the nut. The ground should be plowed beforehand, which may be difficult at that time of year. The main reason for this is to improve root penetration and kill grasses that produce toxins which inhibit tree growth. Plowing also makes it easier to plant the seed. Spacing between rows usually depends on the size of the equipment used to mow between rows (when the trees are about 10 years old), but is usually 15 to 20 feet. Spacing between trees down the row is usually 7 feet. Black plastic mulch is typically used for direct seed planted orchards in 4-foot wide rolls. These may be purchased from Irrigation Mart ® (www.irrigation-mart.com/imp.html). Tree tubes are also required for protection against voles and groundhogs. The chapter typically buys 18-inch high Miracle tubes from Tree Pro ® (www.treepro.com/). Photos of Carolinas members planting chestnuts by direct seed can be seen by CLICKING HERE (www.carolinas-tacf.org/album.php?id=35).
Weed control is a major issue. Some growers use black plastic or permeable fabric mats and many also use herbicide. I’ve had good results using a backpack sprayer with a 2% glyphosate (active ingredient in Roundup ®) solution, but you must avoid spraying any on the chestnut seedlings. Consult your local Agriculture extension agent before using any pesticides and always follow proper handling and application measures. Coming to chapter meetings is also an excellent way to learn from experienced growers.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Best regards,
Clint Neel
Tennessee Chapter President
(615) 736-7947 (work)
(931) 261-9287 (cell)
Email: tcneel21@tntech.edu