Chestnut Blight

Scientific name: Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr (formerly known as Endothia parasitica)

Common names: Chestnut blight, chestnut bark disease

Native To: Asia (Anagnostakis 1997)

Date of U.S. Introduction: First discovered in 1904 (Anagnostakis 1997)

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Videos: Alabama Cooperative Extension - Chestnut Blight (or click Play button below)

Greatest forest loss in history

Means of Introduction: Introduced on nursery stock imported from Asia (Anagnostakis 1997)

Impact: Fungal disease of chestnut trees (Castanea spp.) that virtually eliminated mature American chestnuts (Castanea dentata) from the U.S. (Griffin 2000)

Current U.S. Distribution: Widespread throughout the U.S.

• Alien Forest Pest Explorer Pest Distribution Map: Chestnut Blight (Oct 2010; PDF | 989 KB)

Management Plans: Microbes

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

Federal Government

Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr
Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
Taxonomy

Cryphonectria parasitica Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Chestnut Blight, caused by Endothia parasitica - Insects and Diseases of Trees in the South (1989)
USDA. FS. Forest Health Protection. Southern Region.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Dispersion; Controls

Return of the American Chestnut - Compass Issue 11 (Jun 2008)
USDA. FS. Forest Health Protection. Southern Region.
Impacts; Controls

Restoration of the American Chestnut in New Jersey (May 2006; PDF | 352 KB)
DOI. FWS. New Jersey Field Office.
Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Chestnut blight and the good virus
DOI. NPS. Great Smoky Mountains.
Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

State Government

Chestnuts and the Introduction of Chestnut Blight (Nov 1997)
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
Introduction History; Impacts; Controls; Special Note: See also Protecting Trees from Chestnut Blight

Chestnut Blight
Oregon Department of Agriculture. Commodity Inspection Division.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution; Dispersion; Legal Aspects

Chestnut's Last Stand - Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine (Aug 2002)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Introduction History; Impacts; Controls; Research

Chestnut Blight Fungus - Introduced Species Summary Project
Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Chestnut Blight
eXtension.org.
Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Dispersion; Controls; Research

Chestnut blight - WeedUS Database
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Taxonomy; Photographs

Control of Chestnut Blight
Pennsylvania State University. School of Forest Resources.
Controls

International

Cryphonectria parasitica - Invasive Species Compendium
Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI).
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Data Sheets on Quarantine Pests: Cryphonectria parasitica (PDF | 35 KB)
European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Bibliography

Chestnut blight - Insects and diseases of Canada's forests
Natural Resources Canada. Canadian Forest Service.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution

Chestnut blight
Natural Resources Canada and Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Forest Invasive Alien Species.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution

Chestnut blight
Pests and Diseases Image Library (Australia).
Identification/Description; Photographs

Cryphonectria parasitica (fungus) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

American Chestnut Foundation
American Chestnut Foundation.
Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Revitalization of the Majestic Chestnut: Chestnut Blight Disease
American Phytopathological Society.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Chestnut Blight
Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Chestnut Blight
Missouri Botanical Garden. William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Integrated Pest Management.
Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Controls

Chestnut Blight
The Nature Conservancy. Don't Move Firewood.
Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Controls

Citations

Anagnostakis, Sandra L. 1997. Chestnuts and the Introduction of Chestnut Blight. Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.

Griffin, Gary J. 2000. Blight Control and Restoration of the American Chestnut. Journal of Forestry 98(2):22-27.