It wasn't deliberate. It was innocent collectors doing what they do best! However, the importation of Chinese (or Japanese) plant materials by Brooklyn Zoological Park in New York City about 1904 resulted in the greatest ecological disaster in recorded history. The American Chestnut, Castanea dentata, occupied 25% of the hardwood forest from Maine to Mississippi. Over 4 billion trees were killed by an aerobic fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) over a 50 year period. Large sums of money were spent by state and federal governments to solve this problem with little success. A root rot (Phytophthora cinnamoni) was observed in moist southern locations as early as 1824 which limited the spread of chestnut and Allegheny chinkapin trees. The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) was organized by Dr. Charles' Burnham and a dedicated group of plant scientists in 1983. Much progress has been made but the desired goal is still in the future.

Strategy for Tree Restoration

1. Back Cross Program with Chinese Tree (Castanea Mollissima ) Hand pollinate flowers with pollin from male catkin, harvest burrs, store nuts in refrigerator, plant seed, wait 2 - 3 years, apply resistance test with fungus, evaluate results.
2. Introduce Hypovirulent form of the Fungus in the Forest - Dr. Sandra L. Ana gnostakis (CT Agricultural Expt. Station), Professor William Mac Donald (U. West Virginia) Professor Dennis Fulbright (U. Michigan State), Dr. Donald L. Nuss (U. Maryland Biotechnology Institute).
   The moving target- genetic evolution
   Custom designed hypovirulent fungus
3. Application of Systemic Fungicides - preserving genetic diversity by quackery Mud packing, DuPont Benlate (Charles Delp), triazole, benzimadazole (Professor Terry Tattar - U. Massachusetts), azoxystrobin ( Dr. Wallace McCurdy & Dr. Paul Schaefer).

Steps We Can Take in Delaware to Bring the Chestnuts Back

1. Buy Chestnuts from Nancy and Gary Petitt, Delmarvelous Chestnuts, P.O. Box 427, Townsend, DE.
2. Locate and Identify Mother Trees or Sprouts
3. Form a Delaware Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation
4. Plant new Backcross Chestnut Trees on Iron Hill and Chestnut Hill

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