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Chinese Chestnut #878087

Asked July 21, 2024, 9:07 AM EDT

I read online that oak Wilt is known to kill chestnuts. But every case that Read online is talking about the colossal Chestnut. Is the Chinese Chestnut more resistant to oak wilt than the colossal? Is there any confirmed cases with the Chinese Chestnut with oak Wilt? I've been planting Chinese chestnuts on my property, and I'm a little concerned that my trees May die in the future. Thanks for your time

Oceana County Michigan

Expert Response

Here is an article discussing testing of the 'Colossal' chestnut, which is a hybrid of a Eurasian chestnut species and a Japanese chestnut species. 

MSU investigating oak wilt as the cause of sudden chestnut tree decline - Chestnuts

The above article from 2023 also states the following regarding Chinese chestnut:

"Oak wilt affecting chestnut had not previously been confirmed or reported in Michigan. We identified a single report of the oak wilt fungus causing disease in Chinese chestnut (C. mollissima) in Missouri from the 1950s. However, we have since discovered that a chestnut grower in Ohio has lost more than a hundred 30-year-old trees with symptoms very similar to those seen in Michigan, and Bf was also isolated from these trees."

The chestnut species, Castanea, is listed in books as technically susceptible to oak wilt...but based on the article above, it seems like infection is possible but not very common. 

Here are some resources to help prevent oak wilt:

Smart Gardening to Prevent Oak Wilt - Gardening in Michigan (msu.edu)

Understanding oak wilt - MSU Extension 

Oak wilt: Diagnosing and preventing - MSU Extension

MichiganOakWilt.org



An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 22, 2024, 3:13 PM EDT
Okay thank you! I'm in an area that has very low oak numbers. I'm hoping my Chinese chestnuts will be safe because they are isolated. Seems like there are very few cases with the Chinese Chestnut, seems like there's more with a colossal. Maybe because there's a lot more colossal orchards planted? Thanks for your time

On Mon, Jul 22, 2024, 3:13 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied July 22, 2024, 3:32 PM EDT

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