USDA deregulates blight tolerant American chestnut

The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is deregulating Darling 54 American chestnut, a cultivar developed by the Environmental Science and Forestry at the State University of New York College (SUNY-ESF).

Image courtesy of USDA APHIS

This American chestnut variety was developed using genetic engineering to enhance tolerance to chestnut blight, a deadly parasitic fungal disease caused by the pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica, and introduced to North America in the early 1900s.

A new disease-resistant American chestnut

In a notice posted in the Federal Register, APHIS explained that after a thorough review, it determined that the modified American chestnut is unlikely to pose a greater plant pest risk than its unmodified counterpart, so the plant does not need to be subject to the agency's regulation.

Referential image via Shutterstock

The agency added that it made the determination based on its evaluation of data submitted by SUNY-ESF, available scientific data, and public comments received in response to requests made on November 10, 2022, and June 6, 2025. This information will be available to the public through the Federal Register website. 

*Main image is referential via Shutterstock 

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