Abstract
We have been planting blight resistant American chestnut seedlings on reclaimed coal mined areas in Southeastern Ohio, which was once within the natural range of the American chestnut. Towards the goal of restoring the American chestnut, we are testing suitable sites that can aid survival, growth and establishment of planted seedlings pre-inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi. Prior to the arrival of the chestnut blight fungus, pathogens of the genus
Phytophthora were introduced in the USA that were responsible for the "ink disease" or "root-rot" resulting in wide-spread death of chestnut trees in southern states. Although these pathogens were not observed elsewhere, recent reports indicate their presence in some northern states, including Ohio. We have been testing each location targeted for chestnut plantings for the presence of
Phytophthora, specifically
P. cinnamomi. The work reported here shows results obtained from seven different sites in southeastern Ohio where reclamation was done 3-20 years ago.
Keywords
root colonization of fungi,
chestnut restoration
Citation
Hiremath, Shiv; Lehtoma, Kirsten; Bauman, Jenise M. 2013. Survey for the presence of
Phytophthora cinnamomi on reclaimed mined lands in Ohio chosen for restoration of the American chestnut. Journal American Society of Mining and Reclamation. 2(1): 68-79.
