ZLV Online

Abstrakt

The article discusses the distribution and use of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) in Europe, and there is a focus on the Czech Republic. In this country, chestnut is a tree that can grow on various types of soil, and the main factor limiting its growing are late frosts. There have been two main reasons for the introduction of sweet chestnut to our lands in history: (1) the tree ornamentality in the gardens of new castles and monasteries, and (2) the nutrition of people. In last few years, however, there has been taken into consideration a new reason for growing the sweet chestnut, namely the production of high-quality honey. On the other hand, there are some factors that pose a threat to the chestnut stands. The most serious and widespread is ink disease caused by fungi of genus Phytophtora, followed by the causative agent of the bark necrosis of chestnut (Cryphonectria parasitica Murr. Barr.).