Breaking Isolation /Establishing Gene Nodes

Important parts of the CCC breeding program are breaking isolation and gene pool conservation projects. The aim of breaking isolation project is to provide pollen source for isolated and flowering American chestnut. To do so, we plant about 7 to 10 trees around mother tree. As the pollen source, we use grafted native trees and native seedlings. The grafted trees were used around trees with sufficient sunlight. Over 70 trees are in our breaking isolation program.

The aim of the gene pool conservation project is to establish an isolated colony of American chestnut various genotypes. Based on self-sustainability model about 100 trees should be planted at a colony.