ZonePlant

Disease on crop

fungal

Chestnut Blight on chestnut

Cryphonectria parasitica

The fungus that destroyed the American chestnut population in the early 20th century. Chinese chestnuts and most modern hybrids are tolerant; American chestnut remains susceptible.

Disease
Chestnut Blight
Pathogen type
Fungal
Crop
Chestnut
Scientific name
Cryphonectria parasitica

Chestnut Blight on chestnut

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Symptoms on chestnut

  • Sunken orange-brown cankers on trunks and branches
  • Wilting and dieback above cankers
  • Orange spore masses on canker surface during wet weather

IPM controls

  • Plant resistant Chinese chestnut or blight-tolerant hybrids (Dunstan, Sleeping Giant)
  • Mud-pack canker treatment for valuable specimens
  • Hypovirulent strain biocontrol where available
  • Avoid wounding trunks during cultivation

Resistant varieties

Dunstan Sleeping Giant Chinese Chestnut

Other crops affected by chestnut blight

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