Committee Chair

Craddock, James Hill

Department

Dept. of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

An F2 population of second backcross interspecific hybrid chestnut trees (BC2F2) and the progeny of the Chattanooga Chestnut Tree Project (CCTP) breeding program were exposed to three isogenic strains of Cryphonectria parasitica. Strain Ep155 (virus-free) was used to screen the 4- 7 year old chestnut trees for resistance to chestnut blight disease. Two virus-containing, hypovirulent strains, Ep155(CHV1-Euro7) and Ep155(CHV1-Ep713), were used to investigate interactions of host disease resistance and expression ofhypovirulence. The BC2F2 population varied from highly susceptible to highly resistant, as measured by Ep155 (virus-free) canker length at 95 days. Disease resistance in the CCTP population varied from highly susceptible to intermediately resistant. Ep155(CHV1-Ep713) cankers were significantly smaller than cankers caused by Epl55(CHV1-Euro7) and Ep155 (virusfree). Investigation of the interactions of host disease resistance and expression of hypovirulence is currently in progress at the CCTP breeding orchard.

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank all those who helped me complete my Master of Science degree in Environmental Science. I am very grateful to Dr. J. Hill Craddock, the chairperson of my thesis committee, for his willingness to teach me, all his help in the orchards measuring cankers, and his friendship. I thank Dr. Fred Hebard for being on my thesis committee and for all of his help, advice, and time. I also thank Dr. David Abom for being on my thesis committee and for his helpful insight. I thank Dr. Mark Double and Dr. Bill MacDonald for providing me with the fungal isolates used in this study and for their advice. I am thankful to my brother Mark Alexander for his priceless help and encouragement throughout graduate school and my chestnut research. Finally, I would like to thank my wife Carrie for being my number one supporter.

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

12-2003

Subject

American chestnut; Plants--Disease and pest resistance--Genetic aspects; Selection (Plant breeding)

Discipline

Natural Resources and Conservation

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

ix, 89 leaves

Language

English

Call Number

LB2369.2 .A439 2003

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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