I feel efforts to restore the tree through hybrid breeding programs defy the definition of restoration. Last updated February 18, 1999. Plating out E. coli containing the construct. I plan to use Genetic Engineering to bring a naturally occurring Fungal Resistance Gene to the American Chestnut. See some encouraging results I am using hybrid trees in this effort though.
Hybrid trees are abundant here.
They are used as Stock for a Germplasm Repository for Large Surviving American Chestnut Scion wood and also for selected susceptible trees. Each spring more selections are added to the repository here. A Large Survivor Breeding program is also underway here. Isolated trees which survived the original onslaught are crossed to see if resistance is Heritable. If either effort produces a resistant tree the repository will be on hand to provide regional selections to aid in seed distribution.