12/18/1995

Auburn-Developed Chestnuts May Benefit Future Holidays

AUBURN, Ala. - Chestnuts roasting on an open fire have been immortalized in "A Christmas Song." Sadly, this American family tradition is no longer possible, unless imported chestnuts are roasted, because all 150,000 tons of commercial chestnuts sold here come from foreign countries.

Research being conducted by Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station researchers may provide a bigger, better tasting, American grown chestnut for consumers. From among dozens of potential varieties Auburn researchers have found one, affectionately called "super nut," that has produced very large, high quality chestnuts the past two seasons.

American chestnut trees were virtually wiped out, and commercial production was destroyed by blight in the early 1900s. A new variety being developed by recently retired AU researcher Joe Norton and his Chinese cooperator Hongwen Huang is resistant to the blight and to gall wasps, which have devastated chestnut production worldwide in recent years.

The new variety has no name and is currently part of a research program to evaluate progeny of AU Homestead and other varieties developed by Norton's research team. AU Homestead holds the world record of 323 pounds per tree, and Norton still gets calls from all over the world inquiring about the Auburn-developed variety.

Chestnuts are unique among food nuts in that they have virtually no fat. Chestnut trees, though ideally suited to sandy, well drained soils, will grow well on hillsides, on highly eroded soils, and are adaptable to most any growing conditions. Trees in the Auburn variety tests are not treated with fungicides or insecticides, and receive only 13-13-13 fertilizer, plus some side dressing with ammonium nitrate.

In addition to being nutritious and inexpensive to grow, chestnuts are in demand worldwide. An average tree yields 15-20 pounds of chestnuts and with 500 trees per acre, yields of 7,000 to 8,000 pounds are common. Current prices are over $2.00 per pound, so chestnuts could be a profitable enterprise, though only about 150,000 tons are sold annually in the United States--all of which are imported.

The chestnut varieties developed by Norton's research team were originally brought to the U.S. from China in 1933. They became a part of Auburn's breeding program that produced six varieties, which have been released by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. These include: Black Beauty, Alaling, Alamore, AU-Cropper, AU-Homestead and AU-Leader.

American chestnut trees produce small, high quality nuts, but virtually all the trees grown in the U.S. are grown for wood, not nuts. Conversely, the Chinese varieties produce larger, high quality nuts, but the wood is not good for furniture or building. An average Chinese chestnut tree in Auburn's research orchard at the Piedmont Substation in Camp Hill produces 35-40 nuts per pound. Super Nut produces 18-22 nuts per pound. Despite its larger size and lighter color, Super Nut produces high quality nuts that have consistently scored well in taste tests.

"Though we generally think of chestnuts as roasted and eaten like peanuts or pecans, they are commonly cooked with chicken, fish or other meats and served as a side dish. In addition to being virtually fat free, chestnuts have also been linked to improved kidney function, and generally are considered to be a health food by some," Norton noted.

Despite their yuletide tradition and nutritional value, finding money to develop chestnuts for the edible market in the U.S. has been difficult, according to Norton. Ironically, some of the needed research dollars may come from wildlife enthusiasts. Super Nut and other Chinese chestnut varieties attract deer. In fact, the research orchard at Camp Hill are heavily browsed by deer, despite electric fences and other anti-deer efforts.

The next time you hear "A Christmas Song," and the line about chestnuts roasting, keep in mind the next generation is likely to be bigger, tastier and grown in America, if Joe Norton's chestnut research continues to thrive.

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Roy Roberson

12/18/95