Scientists say genetic analysis could greatly speed restoration of iconic American chestnut

A new study provides hope for revitalizing the once-dominant American chestnut tree through genetic testing and breeding.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A new study published in the journal Science suggests that genetic testing and analysis can help speed up the restoration of the iconic American chestnut tree, which was nearly wiped out by a deadly fungal blight and root rot by the 1950s. The researchers say genetic testing can reveal which individual trees are most likely to resist disease and grow tall, allowing them to breed the next, more robust generation of American chestnuts faster.

Why it matters

The American chestnut was once a dominant tree species in the eastern United States, providing valuable lumber, nutritious nuts, and supporting a diverse ecosystem. Its near-extinction has had significant environmental and economic impacts. This new approach using genetic analysis could help bring back this iconic tree more quickly.

The details

The study found that the desirable traits of the American chestnut, like tall stature and disease resistance, are scattered across its genome. By sequencing the genomes of different chestnut varieties, the researchers identified the genetic markers associated with these key traits. This allows them to breed trees that maintain a high percentage of American chestnut DNA while gaining the disease resistance of the Chinese chestnut. Genetic testing can reveal the best offspring years earlier than traditional methods, speeding up the restoration process.

  • The American chestnut tree went functionally extinct by the 1950s due to a deadly fungal blight and root rot.
  • The new study was published on February 12, 2026 in the journal Science.

The players

Jared Westbrook

Lead author of the study and director of science at The American Chestnut Foundation, an organization working to restore the American chestnut tree to its native range.

John Lovell

Senior author of the study and researcher at the HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center.

Steven Strauss

Professor of forest biotechnology at Oregon State University, who was not involved in the study but commented on the potential of gene editing to further accelerate chestnut restoration.

Donald Edward Davis

Author of the book "The American Chestnut: An Environmental History", who expressed concerns about how much the American chestnut can be changed while still maintaining its unique identity and role in the ecosystem.

The American Chestnut Foundation

An organization dedicated to restoring the American chestnut tree to its native range in the eastern United States.

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What they’re saying

“What's new here is the engine that we're creating for restoration.”

— Jared Westbrook, Director of science at The American Chestnut Foundation (The Associated Press)

“It's a very complex trait, and in that case, you can't just select on one thing because you'll select on linked things that are negative.”

— John Lovell, Researcher at the HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center (The Associated Press)

“People just won't consider biotech because it is on the other side of this social, legal barrier' and that's shortsighted.”

— Steven Strauss, Professor of forest biotechnology at Oregon State University (The Associated Press)

“Having that tree and no other trees would be sort of the gold standard.”

— Donald Edward Davis, Author of "The American Chestnut: An Environmental History" (The Associated Press)

“I think if we only select American chestnut (tree genes), period, there's going to be too small of a pool and we're going to end up with a genetic bottleneck that will lead to extinction in the future.”

— John Lovell, Researcher at the HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The researchers hope that with the genetic analysis techniques developed in this study, the restoration of the American chestnut tree can occur in the coming decades, allowing this iconic species to once again thrive in Eastern forests.

The takeaway

This study demonstrates how advances in genetic science and analysis can be leveraged to help restore endangered species like the American chestnut, providing hope that this once-dominant tree can make a comeback and resume its critical role in the ecosystem. However, the challenge remains to balance the need for genetic diversity with preserving the unique identity and characteristics of the original American chestnut.