conditions typical of forest ecosystems of the southern Appalachian
ecoregion. Since back-crossed, blight-resistant hybrid chestnut
share more than 93% of their genetic traits with pure American
chestnut (Burnham, 1981; Hebard, 2001), trials conducted using
native American chestnut provide a useful strategy to develop
guidelines for introduction of hybrid chestnut. Our specific
objectives were (1) to compare survival and physiological and
morphological growth of pure American chestnut seedlings
planted in two silvicultural treatments on productive, mesic sites
and on xeric sites of intermediate productivity; and (2) to
determine relationships between abiotic and biotic factors and
American chestnut seedling response.