ABSTRACT
In the Castanea genus, some traits are strongly variable (e.g., morphological and ecological traits, vegetative and reproductive habits, resistance to biotic, and abiotic stresses). Over the centuries, human migrations strongly influenced the present range of distribution of the species, and many regions in Asia and Europe have a centuries-old growing tradition. In particular, Romans greatly contributed to the spread of this species in the European countries. Moreover, in some Western areas, local domestication and spontaneous spread of the tree after the last glacial period were also observed (Beccaro et al., 2012, Silvae Genetica 2012, 61, 292). This chapter presents the state of knowledge in chestnut production from a nursery to a market. This nut crop provides a calorie-rich carbohydrate food sources and is profitable for producers. Additionally, the cultivation of chestnut improves the soil and helps trees sequester carbon. From Mediterranean Europe to Chile, from China to Australia, chestnut production is greatly increasing, especially 538in the last several decades, and the establishment of high-density orchards, increasing worldwide, is a relatively recent innovation.
