The blight fungus was probably brought to America on imported nursery stock of Chinese chestnuts. American trees had simply never evolved resistance to this parasite.

The Chinese chestnut trees are resistant to the blight. Fitzsimmons said the American trees aren't extinct because the blight can't kill the roots. So the trees re-sprout, they grow maybe a dozen ...

The American Chestnut Foundation, among others, has been trying for decades to breed a hybrid that is mostly American in genetics but with the fungus-fighting traits of the Chinese type.

DOVER — With the help of a tree in Farmington, those working to breed a blight-resistant American chestnut tree say they are seeing positive results, giving them hope they will reach their goal ...

Thanksgiving leftovers in my kitchen include Chinese chestnut-stuffing. Most people know that our American chestnut trees were decimated by an Asian fungus detected in 1904 that killed untold ...

Optimism is sprouting from blight-resistant chestnut seedlings in the Cherokee National Forest and other remote outdoor labs. The seedlings are hybrids of American chestnuts and Chinese chestnuts ...

Stephen Zuk tills the soil to prepare for chestnut tree planting on his property in Cressona, Friday, June 20, 2025. The planting is part of an effort to develop a hybrid, crossbred with a Chinese ...

After a blight fungus decimated American chestnut trees across the eastern U.S. in the mid-20th century, dedicated naturalists have kept the species alive by breeding hybrids of the American ...

Back to homepage / Live news For blight-ridden American chestnut tree, rebirth may be in offing. Meadowview (United States) (AFP) – The American chestnut tree, once a regal pillar of forests ...

The Chinese chestnut trees are resistant to the blight. Advertisement Fitzsimmons said the American trees aren't extinct because the blight can't kill the roots.

Thanksgiving leftovers in my kitchen include Chinese chestnut-stuffing. Most people know that our American chestnut trees were decimated by an Asian fungus detected in 1904 that killed untold ...