SITUATION OF SWEET CHESTNUT (CASTANEA SATIVA MILL.) IN SPAIN, GALICIA: A REVIEW

The article describes the distribution of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) in the northern part of Spain – Galicia. This part of Spain, which is forested more than other parts of Spain, is characterized by high precipitations that make very favorable conditions for growth of chestnut. Chestnut can be found here in the orchards (plantations), coppice and natural forests. The species has been replaced by faster growing and more marketable tree species. These include Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus nitens, Pinus pinaster Ait. and Pinus sylvestris L. Other problems are diseases which have attacked the chestnut stands. There are two most serious and most widespread – Ink disease that is caused by cinnamon fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands.) and cancer of chestnut bark (Cryphonectria parasitica Murr. Barr.). Ink disease or ‛La tintaʼ as well as cancer ‛El chancroʼ have spread throughout the Spain. Chestnuts have been growing in Spain especially for fruit; cultivation for wood is not very common, although it has an excellent hard wood and grows relatively quickly. Moreover, its growing-stock per one hectare exceeds the average. Chestnut is very attractive deciduous tree and it should be still counted with it in the future