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Early results from a pilot test of planting small American chesnut seedlings under a forest canopy

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Successful development of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) hybrids that are resistant to chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) will require information about methods for effective and economical reintroduction of this species in forests of the southern Appalachian Mountains (Boucher 2000) American chestnut regenerates naturally from seedlings that become established and gradually accumulate beneath a closed tree canopy (Paillet and Rutter 1989, Billo 1998) Chestnut seedllings on a partially shaded forest floor gradually develop well-established root systems through successive sprouting and dieback episodes, and eventually will initiate rapid growth upon receiving additional light resulting from disturbance in the overstory canopy (Billo 1998, Palliet 2002).

Citation

McNab, W. Henry; Patch, Steven; Nutter, A. Amelia. 2003. Early results from a pilot test of planting small American chesnut seedlings under a forest canopy. Journal of the American Chesnut Foundation 16(2): 32-41
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/20295