| Chestnut cultivars were evaluated for their commercial applicability under the environmental conditions in Hamilton County, TN at 35°13' 45" N 85° 00' 03.97" elevation 230 meters. In 2003 and 2004, 534 trees were planted, representing 64 different cultivars, varieties, and species. Twenty trees from each of 20 different cultivars were planted as five-tree plots in a randomized complete block design in four blocks of 100 trees each, amounting to 400 trees. The remaining 44 chestnut cultivars, varieties, and species served as a germplasm collection. These were planted in guard rows surrounding the four blocks in completely randomized, single-tree plots. In the analysis, we investigated our collection predominantly with the aim to: 1) discover the degree of acclimation of grower-recommended cultivars to southeastern Tennessee climatic conditions and 2) ascertain the cultivars' ability to survive in the area with Cryphonectria parasitica and other chestnut diseases and pests present. We hypothesized that some cultivars would perform well and could therefore be recommended to potential growers. Cultivars were primarily judged based on mean nut mass and total nut yield. Based on our results, recommendations for chestnut cultivars in Tennessee include 'Gideon', 'Nanking', 'Shing', 'Qing', 'Eaton', 'Eaton River', and 'Payne', which show promise in being generally abundant producers that also yield profitably sized nuts. Unlikely candidates based on mean nut mass and survivorship are 'Ford's Sweet', 'Little Giant', 'Heritage', 'Byron', 'Colossal', and 'Ford's Tall'. |
