I Can Dig It! - Transplanting Pure American Chestnut Sprouts

Although chestnut blight killed many (most) American chestnut trees throughout the historic range - from Maine to Mississippi - it did not kill the root systems of the trees.  This started the cycle of root sprouts coming up from these living root systems, growing to a certain point, then succumbing to the blight.  Occasionally, these sprouts will get large enough to produce nuts prior to getting and dying from the blight.

In 2013, some native American chestnut sprouts were found at Ft. Knox, KY, following some light thinning within a forested stand.  This thinning activity was done to improve habitat for threatened and endangered bats.  With the thinner tree canopy, more sunlight was allowed to hit the forest floor.  This light is what spurred these sprouts to quickly take off after many years of being suppressed.

The Kentucky Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation has partnered with Ft. Knox and the US Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, at Green River Lake near Campbellsville, KY, to establish a location where stump sprouts can be relocated to in order to provide them full sunlight, water, nutrients and some limited blight prevention (fungicides, mud packing of cankers, etc).  The goal of this "Germplasm Conservation Orchard" is to grow this chestnut genetic source from Ft. Knox to the point of successful flowering where either pollen can be collected from these trees or pollen can be brought to these trees for controlled pollination.  The goal is to develop a new genetic line for the Chapter's backcross breeding program.

Earlier this month, TACF volunteers, KY State Forestry folks, Bernheim Forest folks and US Army Corps of Engineers employees converged on Ft. Knox in order to dig the known sprouts for transfer to Green River Lake.

 

On the same day that the sprouts were dug they were hauled to the orchard site and replanted there.

This photo by Sarah Mattingly, US Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District.

The newly planted trees quickly had protective fencing placed around them to keep deer from nibbling on the twigs.  In all, eight planting spots were filled within the orchard with stump sprouts.  Additional planting will occur as additional sprouts are found from within the "Knobs" physiographic region that either need to be relocated in order to protect or utilize them.  As well, found sprouts or trees may be able to be grafted and placed into the Green River Lake orchard.

It is anticipated that for many years even after a new genetic line is developed from these trees the orchard will produce a plethora of pure American chestnut nuts!  These can be used for test planting future orchard sites, can be stratified and grown or can be utilized for roasting on an open fire!