Forestry & Natural Resources

The Plight of the Butternut

  • December 4, 2019

brennanandrea_butternutseedlings.jpgThe butternut or white walnut (Juglans cinerea) is a tree that is unknown to many. Ravaged by an invasive fungal blight, this wonderful tree is on the decline throughout eastern North America. If nothing is done to save the butternut, it will likely go extinct. If it does, North America will lose yet another important nut-producing tree. That is where people like, Purdue Graduate Research Assistant, Andrea Brennan come in. Andrea and her colleagues are working hard to investigate what can be done to save the butternut from extinction. From hybridization to genetic modification, Andrea's research takes a holistic approach to tree conservation. Check out Episode 232 of the podcast "In Defense of Plants" for an important discussion about the plight of the butternut.

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