Planting and Pollination a Success

Submitted by: Robert Strasser
and Karen Buchsbaum
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This spring marked the 5th anniversary of breeding work in Maryland. The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) members and volunteers celebrated this milestone by working tirelessly to make this year the most ambitious planting season to date. With planting efforts spearheaded by Robert Strasser, almost 1500 nuts were planted in 11 Maryland chapter orchards and 3 school orchards.  All of the 8 previously existing orchards are now planted to capacity. The main objective of this year’s season was planting 20 lines of ‘Clapper', and establishing new B2 lines of the ‘Musick’ sources of resistance.  Maryland now has three orchards devoted to growing the chestnuts derived from this source that has showed promise for resistance to Phytopthora cinnamomi.

Another exciting development this year was the planting of a field trial of B3F3 nuts at ThorpeWood. These B3F3 nuts come from Pennsylvania and Virginia seed orchards and mark what could be the home stretch in the march towards creating chestnuts that are true breeding for blight resistance. BCF3 crosses are on average 15/16ths American, and are believed to be the final cross required to attain recoverable, strong blight resistance while retaining American phenotypic characteristics in the trees.

With all of the excitement of planting, there was very little time for rest before the start of pollination season. This year, controlled pollinations focused primarily on making new ‘Musick’ source lines.  A few additional crosses of other types were undertaken as well.  Six ‘Musick’ source crosses were made on Maryland mother trees, totaling 350 bags. Two F1 crosses were also conducted on flowers in 38 bags to serve as checks for 2009.  One new ‘Clapper’ source B4 was made using pollen from a tree in Morgantown, WV.  The last line created was an experimental intercross line between a ‘Musick’ B1 tree, TW 50, and a ‘Clapper’ B3 from Meadowview. This line will serve as a test for recovery of high levels of resistance.
 
Without the assistance of a bucket truck, pollinations were conducted using ladders on relatively accessible mother trees, and from the ground at ThorpeWood, Sugarloaf Eastfield, and WMREC.  The core pollination team consisted of Essie and Burnie Burnworth, Tom Ladson, Karen Buchsbaum, Gina Staley, and a few other enthusiastic helpers who took special interest in learning about the process. 

Of special note during pollination activities was the presence of Thomas Nassif, who is making a documentary film on chestnut restoration using footage taken in the field in Maryland and Virginia this year.  We are looking forward to seeing the results of his efforts and encourage all who can make it to attend the Chestnut Festival organized by his father Joe in Rowlesburg, West Virginia on October 12th.