In Search of Chestnut Sprouts

Several American chestnut stump sprouts were reported at Ft. Knox over the past year or two.  On September 10, 2014, representatives from Ft. Knox, from the Kentucky Department of Forestry and from KY-TACF conducted a review of the known sprouts prior to searching for others.  The group headed off into the woods.

It wasn't long before arriving at the first known sprout.  Everyone enjoyed seeing this tree reaching up towards the sky.

After a quick look in the vicinity of this sprout for others, the group continued on to the larger sprout that was found in July of 2014.  Although suppressed by a large oak tree, this sprout is much larger.

The sprout has the light pink flagging on it just left of the bigger tree with bright pink flagging.

 

Directly beneath the chestnut tree was a "monster" trying to blend in with its surroundings.

 

 



The group proceeded onto an area that had some thinning conducted several years before, so that additional sun light would be penetrating the forest floor.  This additional light can encourage suppressed stump sprouts to begin growing more quickly which makes them easier to find.

Once at the location, the group spread out in order to cover more area while searching.  It did not take long for the first clump of 3 stems to be found.

Around five other stump sprouts were discovered during the short search!  Each sprout's location was recorded with GPS.  The team discussed the desire to return to the area after fall where the chestnut sprouts will be easier to find.

Currently, the understory vegetation is lush and green.  This makes spotting the toothed green leaves difficult to do.  Once fall comes and most vegetation loses leaves, the chestnut sprouts tend to hang onto their leaves (even after drying up) into the late winter.  This makes searching for and spotting them a bit easier in mid to late November.

With the sprouts found during this short excusion, it is encouraging to know that additional sprouts will be found in this area in the future.

Some sprouts that have been found will be dug and relocated to a Germplasm Conservation Orchard where they can be tended to with proper light, water, fertilization, weed control, etc.  This "pampered" treatment will encourage the trees to grow quickly and to begin producing flowers.  From the male flowers, pollen can be collected and applied to other trees.  Once female flowers form, pollen can be brought to the trees for pollination.  Nuts produced from these efforts can then be planted in backcross breeding orchards, tested for blight resistance and carried forward in the KY-TACF breeding program.

Intereseted in participating in restoring the American chestnut in Kentucky?  Join TACF at Join TACF and be sure to indicate KY for your state chapter.