SWEET CHESTNUT SITUATION IN ROMANIA

Abstract

European or sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is spread in the western part of Romania, mainly in Vâlcea, Gorj, Caras-Severin and Maramures counties. This fruit crop was valued during time due to the fruits rich in nutritional elements and timber used in the furniture industry. Chestnut trees can be found in groves or near ancient monasteries (Tismana, Horezu and Bistrita) and also as small orchards. Research activities on chestnuts were started in the first decades of 20 th century by the Forestry Department. Later on studies regarding the use of chestnut as a fruit crop were launched after 1950 and consisted in selection work carried out into the local populations of sweet chestnut. Breeding activity started at the Fruit Growing Research Stations of Baia Mare, and later in Tg. Jiu and Valcea. As a result, several cultivars have been named ('Mara', 'Iza', 'Tismana', 'Gureni', 'Prigoria', 'Polovragi', etc). A trial with French cultivars and Romanian chestnut selections was set up at Valcea Research Station in order to establish a valuable cultivar assortment suitable for the southern part of Romania. Due to the increased incidence of the chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica Barr.) in the last 20 years, mainly in the Maramures region where large chestnut grove existed, the Forest Research and Management Institute from Bucharest focused on integrated control of this fungus. Since 2003, European chestnut is protected by law in Romania, this measure was taken in order to limit cutting off the existing orchards or the individual trees and to stimulate new plantings. European chestnut has perspectives of extension into culture thanks to its productive and economical potential.