Marsol (chestnut) facts for kids

Marsol (also known as Marisol) is a special type of chestnut tree. It's a natural hybrid, meaning it's a mix of two different kinds of chestnut trees: a European sweet chestnut and a Japanese chestnut. Scientists in France created this variety.

Marsol is mostly used as a "rootstock." This means its strong roots and lower part of the tree are used. Then, a different type of chestnut tree is attached, or "grafted," onto it. Marsol's roots are very strong and help the grafted tree grow well. It's even stronger than some other rootstocks like Maraval.

Growing Marsol Chestnut Trees

Marsol trees are medium height. They have a long main trunk with branches growing higher up. Their buds open early in spring, which means new shoots can be sensitive to late spring frosts.

Flowers and Reproduction

Male flowers, called catkins, bloom from late June. Female flowers appear a bit later, from late June to early July. The male catkins do not produce pollen, so Marsol trees cannot pollinate themselves or other trees.

Disease and Pest Resistance

Marsol trees are quite tough against some plant problems. They can resist a fungus called rust. Their roots also have some resistance to "ink disease," which is caused by a type of mold.

However, Marsol is very sensitive to the chestnut gall wasp. This tiny insect can cause bumps, or galls, on the tree. It is also quite sensitive to the codling moth, another pest. Marsol trees are resistant to mosaic virus and only slightly affected by chestnut blight. They can be somewhat sensitive if their roots get too much water and not enough air.

Marsol Nuts

Grafted Marsol trees produce a medium amount of nuts. If the tree grows from a seed, it can produce even more. Nuts usually start appearing when the tree is four to five years old.

Nut Characteristics

The nuts are triangular and ripen in the middle of the season. They have a shiny, reddish-brown color. Marsol nuts store well and are easy to peel. They can be eaten fresh or used for processing into other products. The taste of the nuts is generally considered to be of lower quality compared to some other chestnuts. Less than 5% of the nuts have a problem where the outer shell splits.

Easy to Grow New Trees

It's quite easy to grow new Marsol trees from parts of an existing tree. This is called vegetative multiplication.

Grafting Compatibility

When using Marsol as a rootstock, it's important to know which other chestnut varieties will grow well when grafted onto it. This is called "compatibility." Some varieties are compatible, meaning they will form a strong connection and grow successfully. Others are incompatible and won't grow well together.