UNE Profesor Thomas Klak is speed breeding American Chestnut seedlings with a wheat gene which makes them tolerant to the fungal blight that has killed 4 billion.
I am growing restoration American Chestnuts on our homestead (there are several videos on my channel). The American Chestnut Foundation has been working on this for many, many years, but this technique looks promising! Now something needs to be done for the Ash. All of ours are dead or re-sprouting (then dying -- wash, rinse, repeat). They have seeds at the foundation for those who wish to help.
One correction, they grew as large as 8 to 10 feet in diameter, not inches as stated at 2:07 in the video. It would be hard for a 12" diameter tree to support 100" high.
@@todddavis4586 Years ago I read about hidden groves of American chestnuts in the Southern Appalachian mountains. Are we near a cure for these wonderful trees? I see seeds being advertised as being American Chestnuts, they look like they are coming from legitimate sources...I am located north-east of Point Pelee in Essex County while I am certain that I am located in the right climate zone for these trees my soil is heavy clay and they don't like heavy soils.
@@dankahraman354 I'm in Scott County Virginia, Southwest Virginia. About 5 miles from the Tennessee line. I'm about in the Center of area where alot of your hardwoods got their biggest. 10 to 15 feet diameter was common. Not only Chestnut but also gigantic Oaks and Yellow poplar, beech etc. Of course that was the Virgin forest days. No Virgin stands of Timber left in Scott County. Only isolated trees. The last Virgin stand was cut in 1977. The landowner got more than 1 million dollars. Money is tempting. There is one valley in the county that was cut back in the 19th century Yellow poplar, chestnut, white oaks 10 to 15 feet through common. A man that I knew who is no longer living. He'd be 110 if he were alive. His grandfather actually was involved in the cutting and a man 6ft tall standing on a tractor seat would not be able to see over the logs. It takes centuries if not several thousand years to get trees that size.
@@dankahraman354 I got some chestnut trees from Wisconsin. Unfortunately all but one has died. The grove was planted after the Civil war out of their range. Union troops took the trees home after the war. The blight was not present their. Chief River Nursery is the name of the company. They're 100% American Chestnut but they don't guarantee them . If you're in an area where the blight hit most likely they'll die. They're definitely a wonderful tree, no doubt about it. If the Chinese chestnut had not of been introduced it would not have happened. Of course people didn't know.
That's terrific news , I hope they start planting them with the proper animal deterrents until they are mature and established . We need forest restoration from Maine across Appalachia and down to to the south. Well done UNE !
One BIG question that I have--why couldn't they have used this blight-resistant gene from the Chinese chestnut tree instead of from wheat? Thank you very much.
I saw video where they found out there are 12 genes in the Chinese chestnut tree that make it resistant (the 12 genes all together). And transferring 12 genes is too complicated, and making it pass through generations seems a lot more complicated.
Should I plant wild American chestnuts or one of these? We need both to save the species. Perhaps I should hike my local woods and maybe find a wild one
They are all over wnc but they only make it a few years I have seen a few with higher resistance but they all succumb to the blight so far. Mother nature is still working to.
I planted one back in 2005 but I did it on a side of a road and paw paws grew up around it its still alive but should be bigger the paw paws are spreading like bamboo
I hope ignorance about GMOs doesn't prevent the return of the American Chestnut Tree. There is nothing is wrong about man doing what nature may not be able to do.
8" - 12" diameter for the American Chestnut tree which attains a height of 100'? How about 8' - 12' diameter? After all, the old pictures of the trees in the wild show them next to mature men, and it dwarfs them! Proofread!!!!!!!!
@@yeticorntub924 I have a European tree in my new york backyard that i planted 55 years ago. It's a majestic tree especially when flowering. It's called a European Horsechestnut. Is that what you are referring to? I tried roasting the nuts once but they were extremely bitter.
@@gfriedman99 No the horse chestnut is a different tree called a conker tree here. The European chestnut or sweet chestnut has an edible nut and the leaves are very similar to the American chestnut, and some are as old as 500 years. I wondered if they are likely to be infected by blight as these diseases tend to travel.
@@yeticorntub924 I am fairly certain the European Chestnut has resistance since it was used in early attempts to make a hybrid with the American to overcome the blight here. The conker is definitely resistant.
Dry them grind them and make gluten free bread. Chestnut is basically corn or rice on a tree. Hell don't eat them yourself run pigs up under them. Let them fool with it.
It is no more modified than Corn or Tomatoes. It is unfortunate the Old World diseases have been brought to our shores. Cross breading has not been totally successful. There are a few American Chestnut groves in Oregon that have not been infected. It is not a good source to work with. These new trees with the gene spliced into them ONLY carry a the gene to fight off the fungus. It is as safe as a strawberry plant with the same gene spliced into it. Do not fear technology.
I am growing restoration American Chestnuts on our homestead (there are several videos on my channel). The American Chestnut Foundation has been working on this for many, many years, but this technique looks promising! Now something needs to be done for the Ash. All of ours are dead or re-sprouting (then dying -- wash, rinse, repeat). They have seeds at the foundation for those who wish to help.
NON HyBrid ? LINKs on your CH ?
@@mba2ceo Not sure what you are referring to. Non-hybrid American Chestnuts cannot live in the wild.
@@PlanetMojo we need to find a miracle single 1 that can
@@PlanetMojo some have survived.
@@smueller12244 They live about thirty years then die back to the roots.
2:03 . . . they probably meant 12 feet, not 12 inches.
This is so awesome :) could you imagine? Smokey mountains COVERED in old growth forest with chest nut trees :) it would be so cool to see
One correction, they grew as large as 8 to 10 feet in diameter, not inches as stated at 2:07 in the video. It would be hard for a 12" diameter tree to support 100" high.
Lol thanks I was sure 12 inches wasn't right
Typical of journalism today. Rife with errors.
she also said 4 million earlier not 4 billion.
I’m planting 10 this weekend. Billion not million btw
What kind did you plant
12 feet in diameter not inches
I was just going to say that. She also said 4 million instead of 4 billion.
@@dankahraman354 Actually one in Sevier county Tennessee was 22 feet in diameter before the blight got it. Several thousand years old.
@@todddavis4586 Years ago I read about hidden groves of American chestnuts in the Southern Appalachian mountains. Are we near a cure for these wonderful trees? I see seeds being advertised as being American Chestnuts, they look like they are coming from legitimate sources...I am located north-east of Point Pelee in Essex County while I am certain that I am located in the right climate zone for these trees my soil is heavy clay and they don't like heavy soils.
@@dankahraman354 I'm in Scott County Virginia, Southwest Virginia.
About 5 miles from the Tennessee line.
I'm about in the Center of area where alot of your hardwoods got their biggest.
10 to 15 feet diameter was common.
Not only Chestnut but also gigantic Oaks and Yellow poplar, beech etc.
Of course that was the Virgin forest days.
No Virgin stands of Timber left in Scott County. Only isolated trees.
The last Virgin stand was cut in 1977.
The landowner got more than 1 million dollars. Money is tempting.
There is one valley in the county that was cut back in the 19th century Yellow poplar, chestnut, white oaks 10 to 15 feet through common.
A man that I knew who is no longer living. He'd be 110 if he were alive.
His grandfather actually was involved in the cutting and a man 6ft tall standing on a tractor seat would not be able to see over the logs.
It takes centuries if not several thousand years to get trees that size.
@@dankahraman354 I got some chestnut trees from Wisconsin.
Unfortunately all but one has died.
The grove was planted after the Civil war out of their range.
Union troops took the trees home after the war.
The blight was not present their.
Chief River Nursery is the name of the company.
They're 100% American Chestnut but they don't guarantee them .
If you're in an area where the blight hit most likely they'll die.
They're definitely a wonderful tree, no doubt about it.
If the Chinese chestnut had not of been introduced it would not have happened. Of course people didn't know.
That's terrific news , I hope they start planting them with the proper animal deterrents until they are mature and established . We need forest restoration from Maine across Appalachia and down to to the south. Well done UNE !
Yet another sickness from Asia , let’s hope they can get them growing once again. Awesome job
A native tree being pushed with no dormancy....16 hours of light perpetually??? Doesn't sound like a recipe for a healthy tree with healthy seeds.
They just need a few thousand grains of pollen with resistant genetics.
Bruh
Sort of like Alaskan cabbages eh?
They are just knockin' up wild trees with the pollen. Not planting them.
Very important work thank you
The Chestnut was the primary wood for railroad ties......many still in use today, all over the country....extremely decay resistant
well when the blight happened all the dead trees were used for lumber so there was a glut of Chestnut lumber for a few years
Does anyone have any updates on how this is going?
Terrific work! We are all rooting for the success of your efforts!
Where can you get the actual American chestnut seeds? Small groups can work from various places.
2:05 12 inch diameter isnt big for a tree, maybe she meat 12 feet also earlier she said bring back 4 million trees, I think she meant billion
Don’t let accuracy get in the way of a good story
Hopefully it will keep going and be able to live in the wild.
One BIG question that I have--why couldn't they have used this blight-resistant gene from the Chinese chestnut tree instead of from wheat? Thank you very much.
I saw video where they found out there are 12 genes in the Chinese chestnut tree that make it resistant (the 12 genes all together). And transferring 12 genes is too complicated, and making it pass through generations seems a lot more complicated.
@@fenrirgg Yeah at that point you might as well just try to plant Chinese Chestnut.
They did. This is for early maturity.
I trying get America Chestnut seeds to grow. Can you tell me where to buy such. Thanks
I hope this happens in my lifetime.
what are the largest Hybrids now?
Yea GMO!😉
Should I plant wild American chestnuts or one of these? We need both to save the species. Perhaps I should hike my local woods and maybe find a wild one
You can't find them. I've heard of one in my state of Ohio, one in Bama and another I think in Jersey of all places.
They are all over wnc but they only make it a few years I have seen a few with higher resistance but they all succumb to the blight so far. Mother nature is still working to.
Get one of these
I planted one back in 2005 but I did it on a side of a road and paw paws grew up around it its still alive but should be bigger the paw paws are spreading like bamboo
*12ft in diameter
The dunstan chesnut is already on the market as a viable alternative
I believe she meant 12 feet in diameter.
12 feet in diameter not 12 inches
if he suxseeds he is a genius and should win the Noble Prize
GMO trees? Why not just look for native chestnuts that have disease resistance instead? A chestnut with wheat genes is not a chestnut tree.
I hope ignorance about GMOs doesn't prevent the return of the American Chestnut Tree. There is nothing is wrong about man doing what nature may not be able to do.
Because there are none.
Think of it as a wheat tree with chestnut genes then its ok
@@cpwm17 Well said.
Using grow lights to speed up maturing has been done many years now with indoor pot growing. Nothing new here folks...
That professor looks like he has had plenty of practice over the years
The wheat genes are new.
8" - 12" diameter for the American Chestnut tree which attains a height of 100'? How about 8' - 12' diameter? After all, the old pictures of the trees in the wild show them next to mature men, and it dwarfs them! Proofread!!!!!!!!
Fake news
I have horse chestnut in Toronto. It gets grey and looses its leaves soon after producing the nuts. Still beautiful tho
I have one in my backyard that I planted 55 years ago. They are beautiful majestic trees especially when flowering.
Love to see it happen in my lifetime.
Are they the same as the European chestnut that we have in the UK?
No. They are similar though. I don’t believe the European chestnut is edible. Is that correct?
@@gfriedman99 No They are very edible nice roasted look to be similar size to the American chestnut. Lot of chestnut coppice in southern England.
@@yeticorntub924 I have a European tree in my new york backyard that i planted 55 years ago. It's a majestic tree especially when flowering. It's called a European Horsechestnut. Is that what you are referring to? I tried roasting the nuts once but they were extremely bitter.
@@gfriedman99 No the horse chestnut is a different tree called a conker tree here. The European chestnut or sweet chestnut has an edible nut and the leaves are very similar to the American chestnut, and some are as old as 500 years. I wondered if they are likely to be infected by blight as these diseases tend to travel.
@@yeticorntub924 I am fairly certain the European Chestnut has resistance since it was used in early attempts to make a hybrid with the American to overcome the blight here. The conker is definitely resistant.
Get them while you can !
Roasted chestnuts are an acquired taste.
Dry them grind them and make gluten free bread. Chestnut is basically corn or rice on a tree. Hell don't eat them yourself run pigs up under them. Let them fool with it.
I have an American Chestnut (real one)that produces nuts❤
I’ll give you $500 for 2 seedlings
Good luck with the wheat gene!!!! Another tree to be allergic to!
I didn't think of that. I am somewhat allegic to wheat.
So sounds like it's genetically modified.
Of course
It is no more modified than Corn or Tomatoes. It is unfortunate the Old World diseases have been brought to our shores. Cross breading has not been totally successful. There are a few American Chestnut groves in Oregon that have not been infected. It is not a good source to work with. These new trees with the gene spliced into them ONLY carry a the gene to fight off the fungus. It is as safe as a strawberry plant with the same gene spliced into it. Do not fear technology.
@@dohcsmr1175 Thank you for your input.
Just like most of the food you eat nowadays.
GMO Chestnut.
AAA Job wtg