New genetic approaches raise hopes for restoring the American chestnut to its former glory

American chestnuts were known as the 'redwoods of the East.' National Archives and Records Administration, NAID: 7030668 The American chestnut tree was a dominant and iconic species in many Appalachian forests until it was devastated by an introduced fungus from Asia called chestnut blight. Healthy American chestnuts were giants in the forest. Forest History Society, Durham, N.C. A majestic forest tree, an American chestnut was…