Portuguese Castanea sativa Genetic Resources: Characterization, Productive Challenges and Breeding Efforts

Megan Braga (), Susana de Sousa Araújo, Hélia Sales, Rita Pontes and João Nunes
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Megan Braga: Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit|North Delegation, Rua Comendador Emílio Augusto Pires, Edifício SIDE UP, 5340-257 Macedo de Cavaleiros, Portugal
Susana de Sousa Araújo: Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit|North Delegation, Rua Comendador Emílio Augusto Pires, Edifício SIDE UP, 5340-257 Macedo de Cavaleiros, Portugal
Hélia Sales: Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição 2, Lagares da Beira, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal
Rita Pontes: Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição 2, Lagares da Beira, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal
João Nunes: Association BLC3—Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição 2, Lagares da Beira, 3405-155 Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Chestnuts are multipurpose trees that grow mainly in the Northern Hemisphere due to their aptitude for fruit and wood production. These trees are vastly significant for the economy and wildlife. The widespread distribution of these trees demonstrates their genetic adaptability to many environmental conditions. The main varieties of European chestnut ( Castanea sativa Miller) cultivated in Portugal, their productive challenges and breeding and biotechnological efforts developed over the last decades are described. This paper highlights the efforts focused on the improvement of varieties and rootstocks through selection and hybridization of European chestnut with the Asian species Castanea crenata Siebold and Zuccarini and Castanea mollissima Blume, which are resistant to ink disease, which have been the foundation of the Portuguese chestnut breeding programs. Breeding and biotechnological efforts developed over the last decades, focused on ink disease and chestnut blight resistance, are described. The potentialities of this research to stimulate the competitiveness of bioeconomy-based knowledge and innovation in the productive chestnut sector is also discussed.

Keywords: bioeconomy; chestnut; Cryphonectria parasitica; genetic resources; genetic variability; genomics; Phytophthora cinnamomi (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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