{{Short description, Hybrid chestnut
Maraval is a named natural chestnut hybrid (synonym CA 74), a cross between a European chestnut (
Castanea sativa
The sweet chestnut (''Castanea sativa''), also known as the Spanish chestnut or European chestnut, is a species of tree in the family Fagaceae, native to Southern Europe and Asia Minor, and widely cultivated throughout the Temperate climate, te ...
) and a Japanese chestnut (
Castanea crenata
''Castanea crenata'', the Japanese chestnut or Korean chestnut, is a species of chestnut native to Japan and Korea. ''Castanea crenata'' exhibits resistance to ''Phytophthora cinnamomi'', the fungal pathogen that causes ink disease in several Cas ...
). INRA bred this variety in 1986 in
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
Lalevade-d'Ardèche
Lalevade-d'Ardèche (; ) is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France.
It is the commune with the smallest area in the department.
Economy
In the 19th century, the commune was an active industrial center, with coal mines and ...
. Maraval produces a big mahogany colored nut from triangular to elliptical triangular shape. The nut keeps well. Nut peeling is mediocre but good in boiling water. Nuts can be used fresh as well as for processing.
Maraval are not very demanding to the quality of the soil and produce nuts in 4 to 5 years. Maraval grow at 250-300 m of altitude in the warm regions of France such as
Gironde
Gironde ( , US usually , ; , ) is the largest department in the southwestern French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Named after the Gironde estuary, a major waterway, its prefecture is Bordeaux. In 2019, it had a population of 1,623,749.
,
Dordogne
Dordogne ( , or ; ; ) is a large rural departments of France, department in south west France, with its Prefectures in France, prefecture in Périgueux. Located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region roughly half-way between the Loire Valley and ...
, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Midi-Pyrenees. The tree is considered partially pollinating since its pollen is not very fertile.
Its early budding makes it sensitive to spring frosts. It is resistant to leaf rust and ink disease.
The tree is a mid-season hybrid variety, upright with moderate vigor and medium stature. The medium stature allows denser orchards than other hybrids such as
Marigoule
Marigoule is the name of a French hybrid of chestnut (synonym M.15 or CA 15), cross between a European chestnut (Castanea sativa) and Japanese (Castanea crenata). In 1986, it originated from a Migoule orchard in Ussac in Corrèze. Marigoule (a con ...
.
Maraval is mainly used as
root stock
A rootstock is part of a plant, often an underground part, from which new above-ground growth can be produced. It could also be described as a stem with a well developed root system, to which a bud from another plant is grafted. It can refer to ...
because of its good graft compatibility with many chestnut varieties. As a rootstock, it is graft compatible with the varieties:
Bouche de Betizac
Bouche de Bétizac is a French chestnut cultivar developed in 1962 by INRA at the station of Malemort-sur-Corrèze near Brive. It is a controlled hybrid between Castanea sativa and Castanea crenata (female Bouche rouge × male Castanea crenata CA ...
Precoce Migoule The Precoce Migoule is a chestnut hybrid (CA 48), a natural cross between a European chestnut (Castanea sativa) and a Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata). It was discovered by J. Dufrenoy at the orchard of Migoule in Brive-la-Gaillarde. The tree ...
, and Maridonne. Maraval root stock is graft incompatible with Marigoule and Primato.
References
* "Châtaignes et marrons" - Henri BREISCH - Editor CTIFL - 1995
* Chataigniers Couli