Tree ring widths and diameter at breast height of American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) growing in a provenance planting established in 2009 on the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont

American chestnut was once a dominant tree species valued for its wood qualities and abundant seed masts. Chestnut blight, caused by the fungal pathogen (Cryophonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr), was introduced in the United States in the early 1900s and functionally removed American chestnut from the forest landscape. However, because this fungal pathogen does not attack root systems, formation of new shoots via stump sprouting continues long after main stems die thereby maintaining chestnut's genetic footprint.

We are working to enhance our understanding of the influence of environmental factors and genetics on American chestnut growth in order to support current and future restoration efforts.<br>The increment cores are currently archived in Room 166 at the Northern Research Station, Burlington, VT. For more information about this study, see Schaberg et al. (2022, doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120178). These data are also currently available via Schaberg et al. (2022, uvm.edu/femc/CI4/dendro/project/70).