http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/us/like-minded-rivals-race-to-bring-back-an-american-icon.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130714&

Chinese

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Chinese

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The choice is zero chestnuts from here on out (statistically, since there are a few survivors haven't been hit by blight or some that have some semblance of resistance), or hybridize and backcross to the point you have a 15/16 pure American chestnut, one that displays all the physical properties of an American chestnut, but has the blight resistance of the Chinese varieties. I'll take it, especially when we are covered up in starlings, pigeons, tallow trees, wild hogs, cattle (yeah, they're invasive and non-native), horses (same), bermudagrass, etc.

I'd like to see the Appalachians look snow covered again because the chestnuts are in bloom.

maybe some of you didn't read the entire article. THere are two versions of the trees. One is crossbred with the Chinese chestnut tree. The other is an American chestnut that has been genetically modified without using any chinese chestnut genes.

When I worked in the Smokies, we would still occasionally find Chestnut trees. So, they are still out there.

Most of the ones we would find were rather small, although we did find one that was about 9-10" dbh.

ten feet you mean?

Just east of Nacadoches, there's an old cemetary off a dirt road called Skinner Cemetary, presumably from the Skinner family. There are maybe 2 dozen graves there, some of which contain soldiers from the Republic of Texas.

2 of the biggest chestnut trees I've ever seen are right in the middle of that cemetary, probably 50-60 ft tall. We had an old deer lease on that dirt road and it was awesome to visit some of those graves and collect chestnuts.

Very nice. I would assume the geography of it is similar to Maple and Walnut? So East Texas could possibly have some orchards of them soon?

Also assume they would never grow in my highly alkaline soil in central Texas.

9 to 10 inches dbh (diameter at breast height). So, the diameter of the tree trunk. The tree itself was probably 20-25 feet tall or so.

Got it zooguy. Thanks.

would also be interesting if with the advent of the trees, the passenger pigeon was brought back from extinction.

We found a nice colony of trees along with the larger one while I was out in the field. Probably 1/4 acre of chestnuts, which was really cool. Most of them were 6 to 10 feet tall or shorter.

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maybe some of you didn't read the entire article. THere are two versions of the trees. One is crossbred with the Chinese chestnut tree. The other is an American chestnut that has been genetically modified without using any chinese chestnut genes.

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No, I read the whole thing last night before I posted. I'd much rather have an all American modified tree than to introduce the Chinese genetics into an iconic American tree. It was late last night when I read it, hence the very short post earlier.

Cue the GMO hysterics! OMG genetically altered chesnuts. They are trying to poision us! Monsanto must be behind this!

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Cue the GMO hysterics! OMG genetically altered chesnuts. They are trying to poision us! Monsanto must be behind this!

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you hate that Grandpa voiced weekend talk show tree hugger as much as I do?

Him and the soccer moms out there who just needed a "righteous cause" to rally behind to fight evil and protect their babies....