GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF PLANTED FIRST-YEAR CHESTNUT SEEDLINGS IN CENTRAL MARYLAND

Abstract

One hundred five chestnuts were planted and followed during their first growing season to test the effect of nut size, tree shelter size, and vegetative competition on the growth of the seedlings. Their growth was measured as final seedling height and diameter, stem emergence date and the peak number of leaves on the seedling. The seeds were comprised mostly of third generation backcrossed (15/16) American chestnuts. Chinese chestnuts, Fl chestnuts, and American chestnuts were also planted. Nut size, tree shelter size and vegetative competition had no significant effect on the growth of the seedlings. Genetic lines had the only statistically significant effect on the growth of the chestnuts. The first year seedlings exhibited the same characteristic differences as are typically seen between adults of the two species. Chinese seedlings were shorter and wider than the taller and thinner American seedlings, while the BC3s fell in between the two extremes.