There are several efforts underway to restore the American chestnut involving traditional breeding methods, simple conservation strategies, methods that would reduce the virulence of the blight fungus, as well as modern gene-transformation techniques. The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is involved with each method, but focuses primarily on classical breeding techniques.
Backcross breeding and transgenic/cisgenic technology are two potentially complementary strategies to introduce genetic resistance to blight into American chestnut. Read more.
While the broadest goal of TACF is to restore the American chestnut species, the organization focuses on two major objectives: (1) introducing the genetic material responsible for the blight resistance of the Chinese tree into the American chestnut; and (2) preserving the genetic heritage of the American chestnut species by planting and grafting native germplasm before it disappears.