Auburn University

Joseph Daniel Norton

Curtis J Hansen

W Alfred Dozier, Jr

'AU Buck IV' is a new and distinct Chinese chestnut cultivar that is blight resistant, precocious and an annual bearer. It produces a medium to heavy crop load each year and a large sized nut. Nut drop begins about October 10 and continues for a 5-6 week period. A high percentage of nuts produced drop during the first 4 weeks of the period that nuts drop from this cultivar. 'AU Buck IV' is a small tree that is broadly elliptic in shape with high, upright to spreading and diffuse branches that was 8.23 meters tall with a canopy covering an area of 30.19 square meters at 15 years old. 'AU Buck IV' is the fourth cultivar to mature and drop nuts in a series of four Chinese chestnut cultivars that will provide for a continuous nut drop of a high energy wildlife food source from late August through mid-to-late November.

Chestnut plant named 'AU BUCK IV'

The disease resistant 'AU Premier' seguin offers food availability for wildlife over an extended period. A single plant drops nuts for a 2-3 month period. Nut size varies with season and the average weight is between 1 and 1.5 grams. The plant does not bloom until mid-May, therefore late spring frosts do not damage the flowers. In most seasons, the 'AU Premier' seguin cultivar will have 2-3 flushes of vegetative growth. The nut quality is similar to the Chinese chestnut in that it is high in starch and sugar (40-42%) and low in fats. 'AU Premier' seguin begins to drop its crop of medium sized nuts about September 8 and nut drop continues until mid-November. &#x2018;AU Premier&#x2019; seguin is an excellent companion cultivar for &#x2018;AU Encore&#x2019; seguin since the major nut drop for &#x2018;AU Premier&#x2019; seguin occurs before the major nut drop period of &#x2018;AU Encore&#x2019; seguin.

Chestnut plant named 'AU Premier'

'AU Buck I' is a new and distinct Chinese chestnut cultivar that is precocious, produces a large crop annually of small to medium sized nuts that mature early and the nuts start dropping about August 28. Nut drop continues for a 4-5 week period. The nuts mature and start dropping 3-4 weeks before most cultivars. The early nut drop and small to medium nut size of 'AU Buck I' make it ideal for use as a food source for wildlife. 'AU Buck I' is a medium to tall tree with a height of 8.53 meters and a smaller canopy area (62.74 square feet) than most Chinese chestnut trees. &#x2018;AU Buck I&#x2019; is the first cultivar to mature and drop nuts in a series of four Chinese chestnut cultivars that will provide for a continuous nut drop of a high energy wildlife food source from late August through mid-to-late November.

Chestnut plant named 'Au Buck I'

'AU Gobbler II' is a new and distinct Chinese chestnut cultivar that is precocious and produces a medium to large crop annually of small nuts that mature early and start dropping about September 4. Nut drop continues for a 4 to 5 week period. The nuts mature and start dropping 2-3 weeks before most cultivars. The early nut drop and small nut size of 'AU Gobbler II' makes it ideal for use as a food source for turkey and other wildlife. 'AU Gobbler II' is an excellent companion cultivar to &#x2018;AU Gobbler I&#x2019; as nut drop begins about 10 days after nut drop of &#x2018;AU Gobbler I&#x2019; and extends the season of available food supply for wildlife. The major nut drop period of &#x2018;AU Gobbler II&#x2019; occurs after the major nut drop period of &#x2018;AU Gobbler I&#x2019;.

Chestnut plant named 'Au Gobbler II'

'AU Buck III' is a new and distinct Chinese chestnut cultivar that is blight resistant, precocious and an annual bearer. It produces a medium to heavy crop load each year and a medium sized nut. Nut drop begins about September 25 and continues for a 4&#x2013;5 week period. A large percentage of the nuts drop during the first three weeks of the period that nuts drop from this cultivar. 'AU Buck III' is a small to medium sized tree that is round in shape with low, dense, and spreading branches that was 6.71 meters tall, with a canopy covering an area of 41.85 square meters at 20 years old. 'AU Buck III' is the third cultivar to mature and drop nuts in a series of four Chinese chestnut cultivars that will provide for a continuous nut drop of a high energy wildlife food source from late August through mid-to-late November.

Chestnut plant named 'AU Buck III'

'AU Buck II' is a new and distinct Chinese chestnut cultivar that is blight resistant, precocious and prolific. It produces a large nut. Nut drop begins about September 15 and continues for a 6&#x2013;7 week period. A large percentage of the nuts drop during the first three weeks after the beginning of nut drop. 'AU Buck II' nuts mature and start dropping during the early phase of the normal ripening period that most Chinese chestnut cultivars mature and drop nuts in the area. 'AU Buck II' is a large tree that was 9.14 meters tall, with a canopy area of 101.36 square meters at 15-years of age. &#x2018;AU Buck II&#x2019; is the second cultivar to mature and drop nuts in a series of four Chinese chestnut cultivars that will provide for a continuous nut drop of a high energy wildlife food source from late August through mid-to-late November.

Chestnut plant named 'AU Buck II'

The disease resistant 'AU Encore' seguin offers food availability for wildlife over an extended period. A single plant drops nuts for a 2&#x2013;3 month period (September 27&#x2013;November 30). Nut size varies with season and the average weight is between 2 and 3 grams. The plant does not bloom until mid-May, therefore late spring frosts do not damage the flowers. In most seasons, the 'AU Encore' seguin cultivar will have 2&#x2013;3 flushes of vegetative growth. The nut quality is similar to the Chinese chestnut in that it is high in starch and sugar (40&#x2013;42%) and low in fats. 'AU Encore' seguin is an excellent companion cultivar for &#x2018;AU Premier&#x2019; seguin since the major nut drop for &#x2018;AU Encore&#x2019; seguin occurs after the major nut drop period of &#x2018;AU Premier&#x2019; seguin.

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Auburn, AL, United States of America

Joseph Daniel Norton