Tree ring widths and diameter at breast height of American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) growing in a provenance planting established in 2009 on the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont

Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Murakami, Paula F.
Originator: Butnor, John R.
Publication_Date: 2026
Title:
Tree ring widths and diameter at breast height of American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) growing in a provenance planting established in 2009 on the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2026-0053
Description:
Abstract:
This data publication includes earlywood, latewood, and whole ring width measurements (2010-2018) of American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) increment cores collected from a provenance planting on the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont. The planting was established in 2009 and is comprised of 13 provenances spanning the historical range of American chestnut. On October 30, 2018 and November 5, 2018, two increment cores were collected from 107 trees exhibiting minimal to no chestnut blight symptoms. This data package includes a separate file for each of the earlywood, latewood, and whole ring measurements as well as files containing provenance information (location and elevation) and diameter at breast height for each tree measured.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of spring foliar phenology, winter shoot injury, and climate (temperature and moisture availability) on the radial growth of American chestnut sources planted in a range-wide provenance study at the northern edge of its historical range. American chestnut was once a dominant tree species valued for its wood qualities and abundant seed masts. Chestnut blight, caused by the fungal pathogen (Cryophonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr), was introduced in the United States in the early 1900s and functionally removed American chestnut from the forest landscape. However, because this fungal pathogen does not attack root systems, formation of new shoots via stump sprouting continues long after main stems die thereby maintaining chestnut's genetic footprint. We are working to enhance our understanding of the influence of environmental factors and genetics on American chestnut growth in order to support current and future restoration efforts.
Supplemental_Information:
The increment cores are currently archived in Room 166 at the Northern Research Station, Burlington, VT.

For more information about this study, see Schaberg et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120178). These data are also currently available via Schaberg et al. (2022, https://www.uvm.edu/femc/CI4/dendro/project/70).
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 2010
Ending_Date: 2018
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
Increment cores were collected from an American chestnut provenance planting on the Green Mountain National Forest in Leicester, Vermont.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.03401
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.03348
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 43.84393
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 43.84318
Bounding_Altitudes:
Altitude_Minimum: 320.5
Altitude_Maximum: 322.5
Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Forest & Plant Health
Theme_Keyword: Invasive species
Theme_Keyword: Climate effects
Theme_Keyword: Natural Resource Management & Use
Theme_Keyword: Conservation
Theme_Keyword: Forest management
Theme_Keyword: Restoration
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: American chestnut
Theme_Keyword: Castanea dentata
Theme_Keyword: tree rings
Theme_Keyword: dendrochronology
Theme_Keyword: spring phenology
Theme_Keyword: foliar and shoot freezing injury
Theme_Keyword: air temperature
Theme_Keyword: moisture availability
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Vermont
Taxonomy:
Keywords/Taxon:
Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus:
None
Taxonomic_Keywords: plants
Taxonomic_Keywords: vegetation
Taxonomic_System:
Classification_System/Authority:
Classification_System_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: ITIS
Publication_Date: 2026
Title:
Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: on-line database
Other_Citation_Details:
Retrieved [April, 14, 2026]; CC0
Online_Linkage: https://www.itis.gov
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KH0KBK
Taxonomic_Procedures:
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae
Applicable_Common_Name: plantes
Applicable_Common_Name: Planta
Applicable_Common_Name: Vegetal
Applicable_Common_Name: plants
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subkingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Viridiplantae
Applicable_Common_Name: green plants
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Infrakingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Streptophyta
Applicable_Common_Name: land plants
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Superdivision
Taxon_Rank_Value: Embryophyta
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Division
Taxon_Rank_Value: Tracheophyta
Applicable_Common_Name: vascular plants
Applicable_Common_Name: tracheophytes
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subdivision
Taxon_Rank_Value: Spermatophytina
Applicable_Common_Name: spermatophytes
Applicable_Common_Name: seed plants
Applicable_Common_Name: phanérogames
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
Taxon_Rank_Value: Magnoliopsida
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Superorder
Taxon_Rank_Value: Rosanae
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Fagales
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Fagaceae
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Castanea
Applicable_Common_Name: chestnut
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Castanea dentata
Applicable_Common_Name: American chestnut
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Fungi
Applicable_Common_Name: champignons
Applicable_Common_Name: Fungo
Applicable_Common_Name: fungi
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subkingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Dikarya
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Division
Taxon_Rank_Value: Ascomycota
Applicable_Common_Name: ascomiceto
Applicable_Common_Name: ascomycètes
Applicable_Common_Name: asco's
Applicable_Common_Name: ascomycetes
Applicable_Common_Name: sac fungi
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subdivision
Taxon_Rank_Value: Pezizomycotina
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
Taxon_Rank_Value: Sordariomycetes
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Sordariomycetidae
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Diaporthales
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Valsaceae
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Cryphonectria
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Cryphonectria parasitica
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Murakami, Paula F.; Butnor, John R. 2026. Tree ring widths and diameter at breast height of American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) growing in a provenance planting established in 2009 on the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2026-0053
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Contact_Person: Paula F. Murakami
Contact_Position: Biological Sciences Lab Tech
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 705 Spear Street
City: South Burlington
State_or_Province: VT
Postal_Code: 05403
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see email
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: paula.murakami@usda.gov
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of original publication date. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Data_Set_Credit:
Funding for these data was provided by USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station


Author Information:

Paula F. Murakami
USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2287-1875

John R. Butnor
USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0602-3898
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schaberg, Paul G.
Originator: Murakami, Paula F.
Originator: Collins, Kendra M.
Originator: Hansen, Christopher F.
Originator: Hawley, Gary J.
Publication_Date: 2022
Title:
Phenology, cold injury and growth of American chestnut in a range-wide provenance test
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Forest Ecology and Management
Issue_Identification: 513: 120178
Other_Citation_Details:
12 p.
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120178
Online_Linkage: https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/64480
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schaberg, Paul G.
Originator: Murakami, Paula F.
Originator: Collins, Kendra M.
Publication_Date: 2022
Title:
Progeny test: assessing the influence of genetics and the environment on American chestnut at its northern range limit
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Chestnut
Issue_Identification: 36(3): 31-34
Online_Linkage: https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/65314
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schaberg, Paul G.
Originator: Murakami, Paula F.
Originator: Collins, Kendra M.
Originator: Hansen, Christopher F.
Originator: Hawley, Gary J.
Publication_Date: 2022
Title:
Phenology, cold injury and growth of American chestnut in a range-wide provenance test
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publisher: DendroEcological Network
Online_Linkage: https://www.uvm.edu/femc/CI4/dendro/project/70
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Measurements of tree diameter at breast height were checked for accuracy by two-person team. Increment cores were visually crossdated using established dendrochronology techniques. Individual tree ring widths were measured to 0.001 millimeter (mm) precision using a Velmex sliding stage and MeasureJ2X software (Voortech Consulting, Holderness, New Hampshire).
Logical_Consistency_Report:
The computer program COFECHA was used to statistically detect and correct measurement errors of radial ring widths.
Completeness_Report:
Diameter at breast height was not measured for four trees and is represented by NA in the tree dataset. Six increment cores that could not be crossdated were removed from the dataset. Blank cells in the tree ring width datasets are a function of increment cores that missed older rings during collection.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
STUDY LOCATION

This American chestnut provenance planting is located on the Green Mountain National Forest in Leicester, Vermont. These open grown trees were maintained in a mowed orchard setting that was one of three silvicultural treatments that also included a partial cut and a closed canopy control study. Open grown trees were the focus of the current study because canopy shading can significantly impact the various measurement parameters (e.g., cold exposure and injury, phenology and growth) that were evaluated here. This common garden is comprised of 13 open-pollinated American chestnut sources that correspond to much of the historic range of American chestnut from northerly Vermont to North Carolina in the south.


DENDROCHRONOLOGY METHODS

Two cores (labeled A and B) were collected from 107 trees (27 from warm temperature zone sources, 54 from moderate temperature zone sources and 26 from cold temperature zone sources) at breast height (1.3 meters (m) above the ground). For one tree, three cores were collected (labeled A, B and C). Cores were dried, mounted on wooden blocks and sanded with progressively finer grit sandpaper. Increment cores were visually crossdated using established dendrochronology techniques (Yamaguchi 1991). Earlywood, latewood, and whole ring widths were measured to 0.001 mm precision using a Velmex sliding stage (Velmex Inc., Bloomfield, NY), microscope, and MeasureJ2X software (Voortech Consulting, Holderness, NH). The computer program COFECHA (Grissino-Mayer 2001) was used to statistically detect and correct measurement errors of ring widths.


Additional study details can be found in Stern et al. (2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120178).
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schaberg, Paul G.
Originator: Murakami, Paula F.
Originator: Collins, Kendra M.
Originator: Hansen, Christopher F.
Originator: Hawley, Gary J.
Publication_Date: 2022
Title:
Phenology, cold injury and growth of American chestnut in a range-wide provenance test
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Forest Ecology and Management
Issue_Identification: 513: 120178
Other_Citation_Details:
12 p.
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120178
Online_Linkage: https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/64480
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Yamaguchi, David K.
Publication_Date: 1991
Title:
A simple method for cross-dating increment cores from living trees
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Canadian Journal of Forest Research
Issue_Identification: 21(3): 414-416
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1139/x91-053
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Grissino-Mayer, H. D.
Publication_Date: 2001
Title:
Evaluating crossdating accuracy: A manual and tutorial for the computer program COFECHA
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Tree-Ring Research
Issue_Identification: 57(2): 205-221
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Data were originally available on the following Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative DendroEcological Network: https://www.uvm.edu/femc/dendro/project/70 and then in August 2026 added to the Forest Service Research Data Archive for long-term preservation.
Process_Date: 20260831
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Below you will find a list and description of the files included in this data publication.

VARIABLE DESCRIPTION FILE (1)

1. \Data\_variable_descriptions.csv: Comma-separated values (CSV) file containing a list and description of variables found in all data files. (A description of these variables is also provided in the metadata below.)

Columns include:

Filename = name of data file

Variable = name of variable

Units = units (if applicable)

Precision = precision (if applicable)

Description = description of variable

Domain Value = unique domain value for categorical variables with multiple domain values (if applicable) (NOTE: there is a separate row for each unique domain value for the specified variable)

Domain Value Description = description of the unique domain value (if applicable)



DATA FILES (5)

1. \Data\American_chestnut_VT_core_data_EWW.csv: CSV file containing tree identification, core identification, and earlywood widths for 208 increment cores (107 sampled trees).

Variables include:

TreeID = Unique identifier for each of the 107 individual trees sampled. From left to right, the identifier corresponds to replicate (1 or 2), subplot (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6), and individual tree number (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16).

CoreID = Unique identifier for each of the 208 individual cores collected. From left to right, the identifier corresponds to replicate (1 or 2), subplot (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6), individual tree number (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16), individual core letter (A, B or C).

[YEAR] = Earlywood widths, in millimeters, for each [YEAR] beginning with the most recent ring 2018 (Column C) to the oldest possible ring 2010 (Column K).



2. \Data\American_chestnut_VT_core_data_LWW.csv: CSV file containing tree identification, core identification, and latewood widths for 208 increment cores (107 sampled trees).

Variables include:

TreeID = Unique identifier for each of the 107 individual trees sampled. From left to right, the identifier corresponds to replicate (1 or 2), subplot (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6), and individual tree number (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16).

CoreID = Unique identifier for each of the 208 individual cores collected. From left to right, the identifier corresponds to replicate (1 or 2), subplot (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6), individual tree number (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16), individual core letter (A, B or C).

[YEAR] = Latewood widths, in millimeters, for each [YEAR] beginning with the most recent ring 2018 (Column C) to the oldest possible ring 2010 (Column K).



3. \Data\American_chestnut_VT_core_data_WRW.csv: CSV file containing tree identification, core identification, and whole ring widths for 208 increment cores (107 sampled trees).

Variables include:

TreeID = Unique identifier for each of the 107 individual trees sampled. From left to right, the identifier corresponds to replicate (1 or 2), subplot (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6), and individual tree number (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16).

CoreID = Unique identifier for each of the 208 individual cores collected. From left to right, the identifier corresponds to replicate (1 or 2), subplot (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6), individual tree number (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16), individual core letter (A, B or C).

[YEAR] = Whole ring widths, in millimeters, for each [YEAR] beginning with the most recent ring 2018 (Column C) to the oldest possible ring 2010 (Column K).



4. \Data\American_chestnut_VT_source_information.csv: CSV file containing seed source identification, latitude, longitude, and elevation for 107 sampled trees.

Variables include:

Source code = Thirteen provenance codes of individual sampled trees. (Possible values: KY1, MD1, NJ1, NC1, NY1, NY2, PA1, PA2, VA1, VA2, ME1, ME2, VT1)

Latitude = Latitude (North) of each provenance source expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds. (Possible values: 35.373 to 45.160)

Longitude = Longitude (West) of each provenance source expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds. (Possible values: -69.083 to -85.626)

Elevation (m) = Elevation, in meters, of each provenance source. (Possible values: 20 to 1387)



5. \Data\American_chestnut_VT_tree_data.csv: CSV file containing tree identification, seed source identification, and tree diameter at breast height for 107 sampled trees.

Variables include:

TreeID = Unique identifier for each of the 107 individual trees sampled. From left to right, the identifier corresponds to replicate (1 or 2), subplot (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6), and individual tree number (01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16).

Source code = Thirteen provenance codes of individual sampled trees. (Possible values: KY1, MD1, NJ1, NC1, NY1, NY2, PA1, PA2, VA1, VA2, ME1, ME2, VT1).

DBH (cm) = Diameter at breast height, in centimeters, measured for sampled individual trees. (Possible values: 6.1 to 45.5)
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Schaberg, Paul G.; Murakami, Paula F.; Collins, Kendra M.; Hansen, Christopher F.; Hawley, Gary J. 2022. Phenology, cold injury and growth of American chestnut in a range-wide provenance test. Forest Ecology and Management. 513: 120178. 12 p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120178 and https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/64480

Schaberg, Paul G.; Murakami, Paula F.; Collins, Kendra M. 2022. Progeny test: assessing the influence of genetics and the environment on American chestnut at its northern range limit. Chestnut. 36(3): 31-34. https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/65314
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80526
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see Contact Instructions
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of August 2026. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2026-0053
Distribution_Liability:
Metadata documents have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise stated, all data and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, neither the author, the Archive, nor any part of the federal government can assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the author or the Archive of the issues.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: CSV
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Comma-separated values file
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2026-0053
Fees: None
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20260831
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Contact_Person: Paula F. Murakami
Contact_Position: Biological Sciences Laboratory Technician
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 705 Spear Street
City: South Burlington
State_or_Province: VT
Postal_Code: 05403
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see email
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: paula.murakami@usda.gov
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of original publication date. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999
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