Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Biotechnology of trees: Chestnut

Formally Refereed

Abstract

Biotechnology has been practiced on chestnuts (Castanea spp.) for many decades, including vegetative propagation, controlled crossing followed by testing and selection, genetic and cytogenetic mapping, genetic modifi cation, and gene and genome sequencing. Vegetative propagation methods have ranged from grafting and rooting to somatic embryogenesis, often in coordination with breeding efforts and programs. More recently, particularly in the United States, chestnut biotechnology has included the analysis of genes and genomes with the goal of characterizing and fi nding disease resistance genes and utilizing them for developing resistant Castanea dentata (American chestnut)

Keywords

Castanea dentata, C. mollissima, Cryphonectria parasitica, chestnut blight, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora root rot, disease resistance, backcross breeding, clonal propagation, somatic embryogenesis, genetic mapping, candidate genes, genetic engineering, transgenic, cisgenic

Citation

Nelson, C.D.; Powell, W.A.; Merkle, S.A.; Carlson, J.E.; Hebard, F.V.; Islam-Faridi, N; Staton, M.E.; Georgi, L. 2014. Biotechnology of trees: Chestnut. Biology and Biotechnology 35 p.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/48097