The once-dominant American chestnut, a cornerstone of the Appalachian forests, was all but eradicated by a devastating fungal blight, leading to its functional extinction. Billions of trees perished, and while new shoots emerge from old stumps, they are swiftly felled by the same persistent fungus. However, this iconic tree is not entirely lost. Efforts are underway to bring it back, employing cutting-edge genetic techniques and extensive testing to overcome the challenges posed by diseases and slow growth rates.
Researchers are exploring several avenues for restoration. One approach involves cross-breeding surviving American chestnuts that show some natural resistance. Another strategy leverages hybrids with the Chinese chestnut, which has evolved alongside the blight. A third, more futuristic method involves genetic modification, introducing genes from other plants, like wheat, that can neutralise the blight's virulence. These methods, however, are hampered by the long generation times of trees and the need for self-incompatibility to be overcome.
A significant collaborative effort has involved infecting over 4,000 trees with the blight fungus and observing their growth for many years in Appalachian nurseries. This has provided invaluable data on resistance levels and growth rates. Surprisingly, some genetically modified trees, while resistant, exhibited slower growth. Conversely, analysis of resistant trees suggests that blight resistance is influenced by numerous genes with smaller effects, requiring careful, directed breeding. For the root rot fungus, however, a few key genetic factors with larger impacts seem to be at play. The discovery of compounds like lupeol in resistant trees offers potential for further enhancing resistance. Ultimately, a combination of these strategies – selecting resistant American chestnuts, breeding hybrids, and directed genetic modification – holds the most promise for restoring the American chestnut to its former glory, serving as a crucial model for future species rescue operations in a n era of increasing environmental pressures.
Fuente Original: https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/02/can-modern-genetics-help-us-restore-the-appalachian-forests-of-the-1800s/
Artículos relacionados de LaRebelión:
- The Hidden Cost of Censorship: How DeepSeek-R1 Compromises Code Security
- Rocket Lab Electron Estrella en California Science Center
- Able Archer 1983 The Nuclear War Scare
- OpenAIs 1 Trillion IPO Worth The Risk
- iPadOS 261 Brings Back Slide Over
Artículo generado mediante LaRebelionBOT
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario