Kafin cututtuka su shafe cututtuka kimanin biliyan 3 ko fiye, wannan bishiyar ta taimaka wajen gina Amurka mai ci gaba a masana'antu. Domin dawo da martabar da ta ɓace, muna iya buƙatar rungumar yanayi da kuma gyara shi.
Wani lokaci a shekarar 1989, Herbert Darling ya sami kira: Wani mafarauci ya gaya masa cewa ya haɗu da wani dogon itacen gyada na Amurka a gidan Darling a Zor Valley a yammacin New York. Darling ya san cewa gyada a da suna ɗaya daga cikin manyan bishiyoyi a yankin. Ya kuma san cewa wani naman gwari mai kisa ya kusa halaka nau'in na tsawon fiye da ƙarni ɗaya da rabi. Lokacin da ya ji rahoton mafarauci game da ganin gyada mai rai, gangar gyadar tana da tsawon ƙafa biyu kuma ta isa wani gini mai hawa biyar, sai ya yi shakkar hakan. "Ban tabbata ba ko na yi imani ya san menene," in ji Darling.
Lokacin da Darling ya sami bishiyar, kamar kallon wani mutum mai tatsuniya ne. Ya ce: "Ya kasance mai sauƙi kuma cikakke don yin samfurin - ya yi kyau sosai." Amma Darling ya kuma ga cewa bishiyar tana mutuwa. Tun farkon shekarun 1900, an yi ta fama da irin wannan annoba, wadda aka kiyasta ta haifar da mutuwar mutane biliyan 3 ko fiye daga irin waɗannan cututtuka. Wannan ita ce cuta ta farko da ɗan adam ke ɗauke da ita wadda galibi ke lalata bishiyoyi a tarihin zamani. Darling ya yi tunani, idan ba zai iya ceton wannan bishiyar ba, da aƙalla zai ceci tsabanta. Akwai matsala ɗaya kawai: bishiyar ba ta yin komai saboda babu wasu bishiyoyin chestnut kusa da za su iya yin fure.
Darling injiniya ne wanda ke amfani da hanyoyin injiniya don magance matsaloli. A watan Yuni mai zuwa, lokacin da furanni masu launin rawaya suka watse a kan rufin kore na bishiyar, Darling ya cika harsashin bindiga da foda mai harbi, wanda aka ɗauko daga furannin namiji na wani itacen chestnut da ya koya, sannan ya nufi arewa. Ya ɗauki awa ɗaya da rabi. Ya harbi bishiyar daga jirgin sama mai saukar ungulu da aka yi haya. (Yana gudanar da wani kamfanin gini mai nasara wanda zai iya biyan kuɗi mai yawa.) Wannan ƙoƙarin ya gaza. A shekara mai zuwa, Darling ya sake gwadawa. A wannan karon, shi da ɗansa sun ja ginshiƙin zuwa ga chestnut a saman tudun suka gina wani dandamali mai tsayin ƙafa 80 cikin sama da makonni biyu. Ƙaunata ta hau kan rufin ta goge furanni da furanni masu kama da tsutsa a kan wani itacen chestnut.
A wannan kaka, rassan bishiyar Darling sun samar da busassun busassun busassun ƙaya masu kore. Waɗannan ƙaya sun yi kauri da kaifi har ana iya ɗaukar su a matsayin cacti. Girbin bai yi yawa ba, akwai kusan goro 100, amma Darling ya dasa wasu kuma ya sanya bege. Shi da wani abokinsa sun kuma tuntuɓi Charles Maynard da William Powell, masana kimiyyar kwayoyin halitta guda biyu a Makarantar Kimiyyar Muhalli da Gandun Daji ta Jami'ar Jihar New York da ke Syracuse (Chuck da Bill sun mutu). Kwanan nan suka fara wani aikin bincike na chestnut mai ƙarancin kuɗi a can. Darling ya ba su wasu gyadar busassun ...
Tun lokacin da Turawa suka fara zama a Arewacin Amurka, labarin da ya shafi dazuzzukan nahiyar ya kasance babban asara. Duk da haka, yanzu mutane da yawa suna ɗaukar shawarar Darling a matsayin ɗaya daga cikin mafi kyawun damar da za a fara sake duba labarin - a farkon wannan shekarar, Gidauniyar Jinƙai ta Duniya ta Templeton ta sanya aikin Maynard da Powell's The wanda aka bayar mafi yawan tarihinsa, kuma wannan ƙoƙarin ya sami damar wargaza wani ƙaramin aiki wanda ya kashe sama da dala miliyan 3. Wannan ita ce babbar kyauta guda ɗaya da aka taɓa bayarwa ga jami'a. Binciken masana kimiyyar kwayoyin halitta yana tilasta wa masana muhalli su fuskanci mai yiwuwa ta wata sabuwar hanya kuma wani lokacin ba ta da daɗi, cewa gyara duniyar halitta ba lallai ba ne ya zama yana nufin komawa zuwa Lambun Adnin da babu shi. Maimakon haka, yana iya nufin rungumar rawar da muka ɗauka: injiniyan komai, gami da yanayi.
Ganyen gyada dogaye ne kuma masu hakora, kuma suna kama da ƙananan ruwan wukake biyu masu kore waɗanda aka haɗa a baya zuwa baya zuwa tsakiyar jijiyar ganyen. A gefe ɗaya, ganye biyu suna haɗe da tushe. A ɗayan gefen, suna samar da wani kaifi mai kaifi, wanda galibi ana lanƙwasa shi zuwa gefe. Wannan siffar da ba a zata ba ta ratsa tuddan kore da yashi marasa sauti a cikin dazuzzuka, kuma abin mamaki na masu yawon buɗe ido ya jawo hankalin mutane, yana tunatar da su tafiyarsu ta cikin dajin da a da yake da bishiyoyi masu ƙarfi da yawa.
Ta hanyar adabi da tunani ne kawai za mu iya fahimtar waɗannan bishiyoyin gaba ɗaya. Lucille Griffin, babbar darekta ta American Chestnut Collaborator Foundation, ta taɓa rubuta cewa a can za ku ga ƙwarya mai wadata har a lokacin bazara, furanni masu kauri da layi a kan bishiyar "kamar raƙuman ruwa masu kumfa suna birgima a kan tudu", wanda ke haifar da tunanin kakanni. A lokacin kaka, bishiyar za ta sake fashewa, a wannan karon da ƙwarya mai laushi suna rufe zaƙi. "Lokacin da ƙwarya ta nuna, na tara rabin ƙwarya a lokacin hunturu," in ji Thoreau mai sheƙi a cikin "Walden." "A wannan lokacin, abin farin ciki ne a yi yawo a dajin ƙwarya mara iyaka a Lincoln a wancan lokacin."
Gyada tana da matuƙar aminci. Ba kamar bishiyoyin itacen oak da ke zubar da 'ya'yan itacen acorn kawai cikin 'yan shekaru ba, bishiyoyin chestnut suna samar da amfanin gona mai yawa na goro a kowace kaka. Gyada kuma tana da sauƙin narkewa: za ku iya bare su ku ci danye. (Gwada amfani da 'ya'yan itacen acorn masu wadataccen tannins - ko kuma kada ku yi.) Kowa yana cin 'ya'yan itacen acorn: barewa, squirrel, beyar, tsuntsu, ɗan adam. Manoma suna barin aladunsu su yi kiba a cikin daji. A lokacin Kirsimeti, jiragen ƙasa cike da 'ya'yan itacen acorn suna birgima daga tsaunuka zuwa birni. Haka ne, hakika wutar ta ƙone su. "Ana cewa a wasu yankuna, manoma suna samun ƙarin kuɗi daga sayar da 'ya'yan itacen acorn fiye da duk sauran kayayyakin noma," in ji William L. Bray, shugaban farko na makarantar da Maynard da Powell suka yi aiki daga baya. An rubuta a 1915. Ita ce bishiyar mutane, wacce yawancinta ke girma a cikin daji.
Haka kuma yana samar da fiye da abinci kawai. Bishiyoyin chestnut na iya kaiwa ƙafa 120, kuma ƙafa 50 na farko ba sa damuwa da rassan ko ƙulli. Wannan shine mafarkin masu satar katako. Duk da cewa ba itace mafi kyau ko ƙarfi ba ne, yana girma da sauri, musamman lokacin da yake sake tsirowa bayan yankewa kuma baya ruɓewa. Yayin da dorewar igiyoyin layin dogo da sandunan waya suka wuce kyau, Chestnut ta taimaka wajen gina Amurka mai ci gaba da masana'antu. Dubban rumbunan ajiya, ɗakunan ajiya da majami'u da aka yi da chestnut har yanzu suna nan; wani marubuci a shekarar 1915 ya kiyasta cewa wannan shine nau'in bishiyoyi da aka fi sarewa a Amurka.
A mafi yawan gabas, bishiyoyin suna kama daga Mississippi zuwa Maine, kuma daga bakin tekun Atlantika zuwa Kogin Mississippi - gyada suma suna ɗaya daga cikinsu. Amma a Appalachians, itace ne mai girma. Biliyoyin gyada suna rayuwa a waɗannan tsaunuka.
Ya dace a fara ganin Fusarium wilt a birnin New York, wanda shine ƙofar shiga ga Amurkawa da yawa. A shekara ta 1904, an gano wani sabon kamuwa da cuta a kan bawon bishiyar chestnut da ke cikin gidan namun daji na Bronx. Masu bincike sun gano cewa naman gwari da ke haifar da cutar ƙwayoyin cuta (wanda daga baya aka kira Cryphonectria parasitica) ya isa kan bishiyoyin Japan da aka shigo da su tun daga 1876. (Yawanci akwai jinkiri tsakanin gabatar da wani nau'in halitta da gano matsaloli a bayyane.)
Ba da daɗewa ba mutane a jihohi da dama sun ba da rahoton mutuwar bishiyoyi. A shekarar 1906, William A. Murrill, masanin ilimin halittar jiki a Lambun Botanical na New York, ya buga labarin kimiyya na farko kan cutar. Muriel ya nuna cewa wannan naman gwari yana haifar da kamuwa da cutar launin rawaya-kasa-kasa a kan bawon itacen chestnut, wanda daga ƙarshe ya sa ya zama mai tsabta a kusa da gangar jikin. Lokacin da abubuwan gina jiki da ruwa ba za su iya kwarara sama da ƙasa a cikin tasoshin bawon da ke ƙarƙashin bawon ba, duk abin da ke sama da zoben mutuwa zai mutu.
Wasu mutane ba za su iya tunanin - ko kuma ba sa son wasu su yi tunanin - bishiyar da ta ɓace daga dajin. A shekarar 1911, Sober Paragon Chestnut Farm, wani kamfanin yara a Pennsylvania, ya yi imanin cewa cutar "fiye da tsoro kawai." Rayuwar 'yan jarida marasa alhaki na dogon lokaci. An rufe gonar a shekarar 1913. Shekaru biyu da suka gabata, Pennsylvania ta kira kwamitin cututtukan chestnut, wanda aka ba shi izinin kashe dala 275,000 (kuɗi mai yawa a lokacin), kuma ta sanar da wani shiri na ɗaukar matakai don magance wannan ciwo, gami da haƙƙin lalata bishiyoyi a kan kadarorin mutum. Masana cututtuka sun ba da shawarar cire duk bishiyoyin chestnut a cikin 'yan mil kaɗan daga gaban babban kamuwa da cuta don samar da tasirin hana gobara. Amma ya bayyana cewa wannan naman gwari na iya tsalle zuwa bishiyoyi marasa kamuwa, kuma ƙwayoyin halittarsa ​​suna kamuwa da iska, tsuntsaye, kwari da mutane. An yi watsi da shirin.
Zuwa shekarar 1940, kusan babu wani babban ƙwari da ya kamu da cutar. A yau, darajar biliyoyin daloli ta ƙare. Ganin cewa ƙwari na fusarium ba zai iya rayuwa a cikin ƙasa ba, saiwoyin ƙwari suna ci gaba da tsiro, kuma sama da miliyan 400 daga cikinsu har yanzu suna nan a cikin daji. Duk da haka, ƙwari na Fusarium ya sami wani ma'ajiyar ruwa a cikin itacen oak inda yake zaune ba tare da ya yi wa mai masaukinsa illa ba. Daga nan, yana bazuwa cikin sauri zuwa sabbin ƙwari kuma yana mayar da su ƙasa, yawanci kafin su kai matakin fure.
Masana'antar katako ta sami wasu hanyoyi: itacen oak, pine, gyada, da toka. Tanning, wata babbar masana'antar da ta dogara da bishiyoyin chestnut, ta koma ga masu samar da tanning na roba. Ga manoma da yawa matalauta, babu abin da za a canza: babu wani bishiyar asali da ke ba manoma da dabbobinsu abinci mai gina jiki, abin dogaro da kuma wadataccen kalori. Ana iya cewa cutar chestnut ta kawo karshen aikin noma na Appalachians wanda ya dogara da kansa, wanda hakan ya tilasta wa mutanen yankin su sami zaɓi a bayyane: su shiga ma'adinan kwal ko su ƙaura. Masanin tarihi Donald Davis ya rubuta a shekarar 2005: "Saboda mutuwar chestnut, duniya gaba ɗaya ta mutu, ta kawar da al'adun tsira da suka wanzu a tsaunukan Appalachian sama da ƙarni huɗu."
Powell ya girma nesa da Appalachians da chestnut. Mahaifinsa ya yi aiki a rundunar sojin sama kuma ya koma iyalinsa: Indiana, Florida, Jamus, da kuma gabashin gabar tekun Maryland. Duk da cewa ya yi aiki a New York, jawabansa sun riƙe gaskiya a tsakiyar Midwest da kuma son zuciyar Kudu mai ban mamaki amma ana iya ganinsa. Sauƙin ɗabi'unsa da salon dinki mai sauƙi suna ƙarawa juna ƙarfi, suna nuna jeans tare da jujjuyawar riga mai kama da ta plaid. Abin da ya fi so shi ne "wow".
Powell yana shirin zama likitan dabbobi har sai farfesa a fannin kwayoyin halitta ya yi masa alƙawarin samun sabon noma mai kyau, wanda ya dogara da tsire-tsire masu canza yanayin halitta waɗanda za su iya samar da nasu ƙarfin rigakafin kwari da cututtuka. "Na yi tunani, kai, ba shi da kyau a yi tsire-tsire waɗanda za su iya kare kanka daga kwari, kuma ba sai ka fesa musu wani maganin kwari ba?" in ji Powell. "Tabbas, sauran duniya ba sa bin wannan ra'ayin."
Lokacin da Powell ya isa makarantar digiri na biyu ta Jami'ar Jihar Utah a shekarar 1983, bai damu ba. Duk da haka, ya shiga dakin gwaje-gwaje na wani masanin ilmin halittu, kuma yana aiki akan kwayar cuta da za ta iya rage cutar fungal. Yunkurinsu na amfani da wannan kwayar cutar bai yi kyau ba: bai yaɗu daga bishiya zuwa bishiya shi kaɗai ba, don haka dole ne a keɓance shi don nau'ikan fungal da dama. Duk da haka, Powell ya yi sha'awar labarin wani babban bishiya da ke faɗuwa ƙasa kuma ya samar da mafita ta kimiyya don faruwar kurakurai masu ban tausayi da ɗan adam ya yi. Ya ce: "Saboda rashin kyawun kulawar kayanmu da ke yawo a duniya, mun shigo da ƙwayoyin cuta ba da gangan ba." "Na yi tunani: Kai, wannan abin sha'awa ne. Akwai damar dawo da shi."
Ba Powell ne farkon yunƙurin kawar da asara ba. Bayan da ya bayyana cewa ƙwai na Amurka za su faɗi, USDA ta yi ƙoƙarin dasa bishiyoyin ƙwai na ƙasar Sin, ɗan uwanta wanda ya fi jure wa bushewa, don fahimtar ko wannan nau'in zai iya maye gurbin ƙwai na Amurka. Duk da haka, ƙwai na girma a waje, kuma suna kama da bishiyoyin 'ya'yan itace fiye da bishiyoyin 'ya'yan itace. An yi musu ƙanƙanta a cikin daji ta hanyar bishiyoyin oak da sauran manyan 'yan Amurka. Girman su yana toshewa, ko kuma kawai su mutu. Masana kimiyya sun kuma yi ƙoƙarin haifar da ƙwai daga Amurka da China tare, suna fatan samar da itace mai kyawawan halaye na duka biyun. Kokarin gwamnati ya gaza kuma an yi watsi da shi.
Powell ya ƙare yana aiki a Makarantar Kimiyyar Muhalli da Gandun Daji ta Jami'ar Jihar New York, inda ya haɗu da Chuck Maynard, masanin kwayoyin halitta wanda ya dasa bishiyoyi a dakin gwaje-gwaje. Shekaru kaɗan da suka gabata, masana kimiyya sun ƙirƙiri ƙwayar shuka ta farko da aka gyara ta hanyar kwayoyin halitta - ƙara kwayar halitta wacce ke ba da juriya ga shan taba don gwaje-gwajen fasaha maimakon kowane amfani na kasuwanci. Maynard (Maynard) ya fara shiga sabuwar fasaha, yayin da yake neman fasaha mai amfani da ke da alaƙa da ita. A wancan lokacin, Darling yana da wasu iri da ƙalubale: gyara ƙwarƙwaran Amurka.
A cikin dubban shekaru na al'adun kiwo na gargajiya, manoma (da kuma masana kimiyya na baya-bayan nan) sun haɗu da nau'ikan iri masu halaye da ake so. Sannan, kwayoyin halittar suna haɗuwa ta halitta, kuma mutane suna zaɓar gauraye masu kyau don inganci mafi girma - 'ya'yan itace masu daɗi, ko juriya ga cututtuka. Yawanci, yana ɗaukar tsararraki da yawa don samar da samfur. Wannan tsari yana da jinkiri kuma yana ɗan rikitarwa. Darling yana mamakin ko wannan hanyar za ta samar da itace mai kyau kamar yanayin daji. Ya gaya mini: "Ina tsammanin za mu iya yin mafi kyau."
Injiniyan kwayoyin halitta yana nufin iko mafi girma: koda kuwa takamaiman kwayar halitta ta fito ne daga wani nau'in halitta da ba shi da alaƙa, ana iya zaɓar ta don takamaiman manufa kuma a saka ta cikin kwayar halittar wani halitta. (Kwayoyin halitta masu kwayoyin halitta daga nau'ikan halittu daban-daban ana "gyara su ta hanyar kwayoyin halitta." Kwanan nan, masana kimiyya sun ƙirƙiri dabarun gyara kwayar halittar kwayoyin halitta kai tsaye.) Wannan fasaha ta yi alƙawarin daidaito da sauri mara misaltuwa. Powell ya yi imanin cewa wannan ya dace sosai ga ƙwarƙwaran Amurka, waɗanda ya kira "kusan bishiyoyi cikakke" - masu ƙarfi, tsayi, da wadataccen tushen abinci, suna buƙatar gyara na musamman kawai: juriya ga cutar ƙwayoyin cuta.
Ya yarda da ni. Ya ce: "Dole ne mu sami injiniyoyi a cikin kasuwancinmu." "Daga gini zuwa gini, wannan kawai wani nau'in sarrafa kansa ne."
Powell da Maynard sun kiyasta cewa zai iya ɗaukar shekaru goma kafin a gano kwayoyin halittar da ke ba da juriya, a haɓaka fasaha don ƙara su cikin kwayar halittar chestnut, sannan a haɓaka su. "Muna tsammani ne kawai," in ji Powell. "Babu wanda ke da wata kwayar halittar da ke ba da juriya ga fungal. Mun fara ne daga sararin samaniya mara komai."
Darling ya nemi tallafi daga Gidauniyar American Chestnut, wata kungiya mai zaman kanta da aka kafa a farkon shekarun 1980. Shugabanta ya gaya masa cewa ya ɓace. Sun himmatu wajen haɗakar da mutane kuma suna ci gaba da taka tsantsan game da injiniyan kwayoyin halitta, wanda ya tayar da adawa daga masu rajin kare muhalli. Saboda haka, Darling ya ƙirƙiri ƙungiyar sa mai zaman kanta don ba da kuɗin ayyukan injiniyan kwayoyin halitta. Powell ya ce ƙungiyar ta rubuta cekin farko ga Maynard da Powell akan dala $30,000. (A shekarar 1990, ƙungiyar ƙasa ta yi gyara kuma ta amince da ƙungiyar 'yan rabe-raben Darling a matsayin reshenta na farko na jiha, amma wasu membobi har yanzu suna da shakku ko kuma gaba ɗaya suna adawa da injiniyan kwayoyin halitta.)
Maynard da Powell suna kan aiki. Kusan nan take, jadawalin da aka kiyasta ya zama ba gaskiya ba ne. Babban cikas na farko shine gano yadda ake shuka ƙwarya a dakin gwaje-gwaje. Maynard ya yi ƙoƙarin haɗa ganyen ƙwarya da hormone na girma a cikin wani kwanon petri mai zagaye mai zurfi, wata hanyar da ake amfani da ita don shuka ƙwarya. Ya bayyana cewa wannan ba gaskiya ba ne. Sabbin bishiyoyi ba za su samar da saiwoyi da harbe-harbe daga ƙwayoyin halitta na musamman ba. Maynard ya ce: "Ni ne jagora a duniya wajen kashe bishiyoyin ƙwarya." Wani mai bincike a Jami'ar Georgia, Scott Merkle (Scott Merkle) a ƙarshe ya koya wa Maynard yadda ake tafiya daga fure zuwa ƙwarya na Plant na gaba a cikin tayi a matakin ci gaba.
Nemo kwayar halitta mai dacewa - aikin Powell - shi ma ya zama ƙalubale. Ya shafe shekaru da yawa yana bincike kan wani abu mai kashe ƙwayoyin cuta bisa ga kwayoyin halittar kwadi, amma ya daina wannan abu saboda damuwar cewa jama'a ba za su yarda da bishiyoyi masu kwadi ba. Ya kuma nemi kwayar halitta daga cutar ƙwayoyin cuta a cikin ƙwarƙwara, amma ya gano cewa kare bishiyar ya ƙunshi kwayoyin halitta da yawa (sun gano aƙalla shida). Sannan, a cikin 1997, wani abokin aiki ya dawo daga wani taron kimiyya kuma ya lissafa wani abu da aka bayyana da gabatarwa. Powell ya lura da wani taken mai taken "Bayanin oxalate oxidase a cikin tsire-tsire masu canzawa yana ba da juriya ga fungi na oxalate da oxalate". Daga binciken ƙwayoyin cuta da ya yi, Powell ya san cewa fungi zai fitar da oxalic acid don kashe ɓawon chestnut kuma ya sa ya zama mai sauƙin narkewa. Powell ya fahimci cewa idan ƙwarƙwara za ta iya samar da oxalate oxidase nata (wani furotin na musamman wanda zai iya rushe oxalate), to yana iya kare kansa. Ya ce: "Wannan shine lokacin Eureka na."
Ya bayyana cewa tsirrai da yawa suna da kwayar halitta da ke ba su damar samar da oxalate oxidase. Daga mai binciken da ya yi jawabin, Powell ya sami nau'in alkama. Ɗalibar da ta kammala karatun digiri Linda Polin McGuigan ta inganta fasahar "gun gene gun" don harba kwayoyin halitta zuwa cikin ƙwayoyin chestnut, tana fatan za a iya saka ta cikin DNA na tayin. Kwayar halittar ta tsaya na ɗan lokaci a cikin tayin, amma daga baya ta ɓace. Ƙungiyar binciken ta yi watsi da wannan hanyar kuma ta koma ga wata ƙwayar cuta wadda ta daɗe tana ƙirƙiro hanyar yanke DNA na wasu halittu da kuma saka kwayoyin halittarsu. A yanayi, ƙwayoyin cuta suna ƙara kwayoyin halitta waɗanda ke tilasta wa mai masaukin ya yi abincin ƙwayoyin cuta. Masana kimiyyar kwayoyin halitta sun mamaye wannan ƙwayar cuta don ta iya saka kowace kwayar halitta da masanin kimiyya yake so. McGuigan ya sami ikon ƙara kwayoyin halitta na alkama da furotin masu alama a cikin ƙwayoyin chestnut. Lokacin da aka haskaka furotin a ƙarƙashin na'urar hangen nesa, furotin zai fitar da haske kore, yana nuna nasarar sakawa. (Tawagar ta daina amfani da sunadaran masu alama da sauri - babu wanda yake son itace da zai iya haskakawa.) Maynard ya kira hanyar "abu mafi kyau a duniya."
Bayan lokaci, Maynard da Powell sun gina layin haɗa ƙwayoyin cuta, wanda yanzu ya kai ga hawa da dama na wani babban ginin binciken gandun daji na shekara ta 1960, da kuma sabon wurin "Biotech Accelerator" mai walƙiya a wajen harabar. Tsarin da farko ya ƙunshi zaɓar ƙwayoyin cuta waɗanda suka fito daga ƙwayoyin halitta iri ɗaya (yawancin ƙwayoyin cuta da aka ƙirƙira a dakin gwaje-gwaje ba sa yin haka, don haka ba shi da amfani a ƙirƙiri ƙwayoyin cuta) da kuma saka kwayoyin halittar alkama. Kwayoyin halittar jarirai, kamar agar, wani abu ne mai kama da pudding da aka samo daga algae. Domin mayar da tayin zuwa itace, masu binciken sun ƙara hormone na girma. Ana iya sanya ɗaruruwan kwantena na filastik masu siffar kubu tare da ƙananan bishiyoyin chestnut marasa tushe a kan shiryayye a ƙarƙashin fitila mai ƙarfi mai haske. A ƙarshe, masana kimiyya sun yi amfani da hormone na tushen tushe, suka dasa bishiyoyinsu na asali a cikin tukwane cike da ƙasa, sannan suka sanya su a cikin ɗakin girma mai sarrafa zafin jiki. Ba abin mamaki ba ne cewa bishiyoyin da ke cikin dakin gwaje-gwaje suna cikin mummunan yanayi a waje. Saboda haka, masu binciken sun haɗa su da bishiyoyin daji don samar da samfuran da suka fi ƙarfi amma har yanzu suna da juriya don gwajin filin.
A lokacin bazara biyu da suka gabata, Hannah Pilkey, ɗaliba mai digiri a dakin gwaje-gwaje na Powell, ta nuna min yadda ake yin hakan. Ta noma naman gwari da ke haifar da cutar ƙwayoyin cuta a cikin ƙaramin abincin petri na filastik. A cikin wannan nau'in da aka rufe, ƙwayar cuta mai launin ruwan lemu mai haske tana da laushi kuma kusan kyakkyawa. Yana da wuya a yi tunanin cewa ita ce sanadin mutuwar mutane da barna.
Raƙuman da ke ƙasa sun durƙusa a ƙasa, sun yi alama da wani ɓangare na ƙaramin shuka mai tsawon milimita biyar, sun yi yanka guda uku daidai da fatar kai, sannan suka shafa rauni a kan raunin. Ta rufe su da wani yanki na filastik. Ta ce: "Kamar bandeji ne." Tunda wannan bishiyar "mai hana" ba ta jure wa cututtuka ba, tana tsammanin kamuwa da cutar lemu zai bazu da sauri daga wurin da aka yi wa allurar kuma daga ƙarshe ya kewaye ƙananan rassan. Ta nuna mini wasu bishiyoyi da ke ɗauke da kwayoyin halittar alkama da ta yi wa magani a baya. Cutar ta takaita ne ga yankewar, kamar leɓunan leɓe masu sirara kusa da ƙaramin baki.
A shekarar 2013, Maynard da Powell sun sanar da nasararsu a cikin Binciken Transgenic: Shekaru 109 bayan an gano cutar chestnut ta Amurka, sun ƙirƙiri bishiyoyi masu kare kansu, koda kuwa suna fuskantar hare-hare daga ƙwayoyin fungi masu yawa. Don girmama mai ba da gudummawarsu ta farko kuma mafi karimci, ya zuba jari kimanin dala $250,000, kuma masu bincike suna sanya wa bishiyoyi suna a madadinsa. Wannan ana kiransa Darling 58.
An gudanar da taron shekara-shekara na Ƙungiyar Chestnut ta Amurka reshen New York a wani ƙaramin otal a wajen New Paltz a ranar Asabar mai ruwan sama a watan Oktoban 2018. Kimanin mutane 50 ne suka taru. Wannan taron wani ɓangare ne na taron kimiyya da kuma wani ɓangare na taron musayar gyada. A bayan wani ƙaramin ɗakin taro, membobin sun yi musayar jakunkunan Ziploc cike da goro. Wannan taron shine karo na farko cikin shekaru 28 da Darling ko Maynard ba su halarta ba. Matsalolin lafiya sun hana su duka biyun. "Mun daɗe muna yin haka, kuma kusan kowace shekara muna yin shiru ga matattu," in ji Allen Nichols, shugaban ƙungiyar, ya gaya mini. Duk da haka, yanayin har yanzu yana da kyakkyawan fata: bishiyar da aka gyara ta hanyar kwayoyin halitta ta shafe shekaru da yawa na gwaje-gwajen aminci da inganci.
Membobin babin sun gabatar da cikakken bayani game da yanayin kowace babbar bishiyar chestnut da ke zaune a Jihar New York. Pilkey da sauran ɗaliban da suka kammala karatun digiri sun gabatar da yadda ake tattarawa da adana pollen, yadda ake shuka chestnut a ƙarƙashin hasken cikin gida, da kuma yadda ake cika ƙasa da kamuwa da cutar blight don tsawaita rayuwar bishiyoyi. Mutanen cashew suna yin fure a ƙirji, waɗanda da yawa daga cikinsu suna shuka bishiyoyi da kansu, sun yi tambayoyi ga matasa masana kimiyya.
Bowell ya tsaya a ƙasa, yana sanye da abin da ya zama kamar rigar da ba ta hukuma ba a wannan babi: riga mai layi a cikin wando jeans. Aikinsa na shekara talatin da ya yi yana da alaƙa da burin Herb Darling na dawo da ƙwarƙwara - ba kasafai yake faruwa ba a tsakanin masana kimiyya, waɗanda galibi suna gudanar da bincike a cikin zagayen kuɗi na shekaru biyar, sannan sakamakon mai kyau ana miƙa shi ga wasu don tallatawa. Don Leopold, abokin aiki a Sashen Kimiyyar Muhalli da Gandun Daji na Powell, ya gaya mini: "Yana da kulawa sosai kuma yana da ladabi." "Yana sanya labule. Ba ya shagala da wasu abubuwa da yawa. Lokacin da binciken ya sami ci gaba a ƙarshe, masu gudanarwa na Jami'ar Jihar New York (SUNY) sun tuntube shi suka nemi izinin mallakar bishiyarsa don jami'ar ta amfana da ita, amma Powell ya ƙi. Ya ce bishiyoyin da aka gyara na kwayoyin halitta suna kama da ƙwarƙwara na asali kuma suna yi wa mutane hidima. Mutanen Powell suna cikin wannan ɗakin.
Amma ya yi musu gargaɗi: Bayan shawo kan mafi yawan matsalolin fasaha, bishiyoyin da aka gyara kwayoyin halitta na iya fuskantar babban ƙalubale: gwamnatin Amurka. Makonni kaɗan da suka gabata, Powell ya gabatar da fayil mai shafuka kusan 3,000 ga Sashen Kula da Lafiyar Dabbobi da Tsirrai na Ma'aikatar Noma ta Amurka, wanda ke da alhakin amincewa da tsire-tsire da aka gyara kwayoyin halitta. Wannan yana fara aikin amincewa da hukumar: sake duba aikace-aikacen, neman ra'ayoyin jama'a, samar da sanarwar tasirin muhalli, sake neman ra'ayoyin jama'a da yanke shawara. Wannan aikin na iya ɗaukar shekaru da yawa. Idan babu shawara, aikin na iya tsayawa. (Lokacin farko na yin tsokaci ga jama'a bai buɗe ba tukuna.)
Masu binciken suna shirin gabatar da wasu takardu ga Hukumar Abinci da Magunguna domin ta duba lafiyar abinci na goro da aka gyara ta hanyar kwayoyin halitta, kuma Hukumar Kare Muhalli za ta sake duba tasirin muhalli na wannan bishiyar a ƙarƙashin Dokar Kashe Kwari ta Tarayya, wadda ake buƙata ga duk tsire-tsire da aka gyara ta hanyar kwayoyin halitta. "Wannan ya fi kimiyya rikitarwa!" in ji wani a cikin masu sauraro.
"Eh." Powell ya yarda. "Kimiyya abin sha'awa ce. Abin takaici ne." (Daga baya ya gaya mini: "Sarrafa hukumomi uku daban-daban babban aiki ne. Hakika yana kashe kirkire-kirkire a fannin kare muhalli.")
Domin tabbatar da cewa bishiyarsu tana da aminci, ƙungiyar Powell ta gudanar da gwaje-gwaje daban-daban. Sun ciyar da ƙudan zumar oxalate oxidase. Sun auna girman ƙwayoyin fungi masu amfani a cikin ƙasa. Sun bar ganyen a cikin ruwa kuma sun binciki tasirinsu akan t. Ba a ga wani mummunan tasiri ba a cikin kowane binciken - a zahiri, aikin abincin da aka gyara ta hanyar kwayoyin halitta ya fi ganyen wasu bishiyoyin da ba a gyara ba. Masana kimiyya sun aika da goro zuwa Oak Ridge National Laboratory da sauran dakunan gwaje-gwaje a Tennessee don yin bincike, kuma ba su sami wani bambanci da goro da bishiyoyin da ba a gyara ba suka samar ba.
Irin waɗannan sakamakon na iya kwantar wa masu kula da harkokin kuɗi hankali. Ba za su faranta wa masu fafutukar kare haƙƙin mallaka (GMOs) rai ba. John Dougherty, wani masanin kimiyya mai ritaya daga Monsanto, ya ba Powell ayyukan ba da shawara kyauta. Ya kira waɗannan abokan hamayyar "abokan hamayya." Shekaru da dama, ƙungiyoyin muhalli suna gargaɗin cewa motsa kwayoyin halitta tsakanin nau'ikan halittu masu nisa zai haifar da sakamako mara kyau, kamar ƙirƙirar "ciyawa mai ƙarfi" wanda ya zarce tsirrai na halitta, ko gabatar da kwayoyin halitta na ƙasashen waje waɗanda ka iya haifar da mai masaukin baki Yiwuwar maye gurbi mai cutarwa a cikin DNA na nau'in. Suna kuma damuwa cewa kamfanoni suna amfani da injiniyan kwayoyin halitta don samun haƙƙin mallaka da sarrafa kwayoyin halitta.
A halin yanzu, Powell ya ce bai karɓi kuɗi kai tsaye daga majiyoyin masana'antu ba, kuma ya dage cewa ba a ɗaure gudummawar kuɗi ga dakin gwaje-gwaje ba. Duk da haka, Brenda Jo McManama, mai shirya wata ƙungiya mai suna "Indigenous Environmental Network", ta nuna wata yarjejeniya a shekarar 2010 inda Monsanto ya ba Gidauniyar Chestnut da hukumar haɗin gwiwa ta New York. Babi ya ba da izinin haƙƙin mallaka guda biyu na gyaran kwayoyin halitta. (Powell ya ce gudummawar masana'antu, gami da Monsanto, sun kai ƙasa da kashi 4% na jimlar jarin aikinta.) McManama yana zargin cewa Monsanto (wanda Bayer ya saya a 2018) yana neman samun haƙƙin mallaka a ɓoye ta hanyar tallafawa abin da ya zama kamar sake fasalin bishiyar a nan gaba. Aikin rashin son kai. "Monsan duk mugunta ne," in ji ta a gaskiya.
Powell ya ce haƙƙin mallakar da ke cikin yarjejeniyar 2010 ya ƙare, kuma ta hanyar bayyana cikakkun bayanai game da bishiyarsa a cikin wallafe-wallafen kimiyya, ya tabbatar da cewa ba za a iya ba da haƙƙin mallakar bishiyar ba. Amma ya fahimci cewa wannan ba zai kawar da duk wata damuwa ba. Ya ce, "Na san wani zai ce kai kawai abin koyi ne ga Monsanto." "Me za ka iya yi? Babu abin da za ka iya yi."
Kimanin shekaru biyar da suka gabata, shugabannin Gidauniyar Chestnut ta Amurka sun yanke shawarar cewa ba za su iya cimma burinsu ta hanyar haɗakarwa kaɗai ba, don haka suka amince da shirin injiniyan kwayoyin halitta na Powell. Wannan shawarar ta haifar da wasu rashin jituwa. A watan Maris na 2019, shugabar Sashen Gidauniyar Massachusetts-Rhode Island, Lois Breault-Melican, ta yi murabus, tana mai ambaton Global Justice Ecology Project (Global Justice Project), wata ƙungiya mai yaƙi da kwayoyin halitta da ke Buffalo. Justice Ecology Project); mijinta Denis Melican shi ma ya bar hukumar. Dennis ya gaya mini cewa ma'auratan sun damu sosai cewa ƙirjin Powell na iya zama "dokin Trojan", wanda ya share hanyar da sauran bishiyoyin kasuwanci za su iya yin amfani da su ta hanyar injiniyan kwayoyin halitta.
Susan Offutt, masaniyar tattalin arziki a fannin noma, ta yi aiki a matsayin shugabar Kwamitin Kwalejin Kimiyya, Injiniya da Magunguna ta Ƙasa, wadda ta gudanar da bincike kan fasahar kere-kere ta gandun daji a shekarar 2018. Ya nuna cewa tsarin gwamnati na tsara dokoki ya mayar da hankali kan batun da ya shafi haɗarin halittu, kuma kusan ba ta taɓa la'akari da damuwar zamantakewa ba, kamar waɗanda masu fafutukar yaƙi da GMO suka tayar. "Menene muhimmancin gandun daji?" ta tambaya, a matsayin misali na wata matsala, tsarin bai warware ba. "Shin gandun daji suna da nasu fa'idodi? Shin muna da alhakin ɗabi'a na la'akari da wannan yayin yanke shawara kan shiga tsakani?"
Yawancin masana kimiyya da na yi magana da su ba su da wani dalili na damuwa game da bishiyoyin Powell, domin dajin ya fuskanci mummunar lalacewa: sare bishiyoyi, hakar ma'adinai, ci gaba, da kuma adadi mai yawa na kwari da cututtuka da ke lalata bishiyoyi. Daga cikinsu, an tabbatar da cewa wilt ɗin chestnut shine bikin buɗewa. "Muna gabatar da sabbin halittu cikakke koyaushe," in ji Gary Lovett, masanin ilimin halittu na gandun daji a Cibiyar Cary Ecosystem da ke Millbrook, New York. "Tasirin chestnut da aka gyara ta hanyar halitta ya yi ƙasa sosai."
Donald Waller, masanin kimiyyar muhalli na gandun daji wanda ya yi ritaya kwanan nan daga Jami'ar Wisconsin-Madison, ya ci gaba da cewa. Ya gaya mini: "A gefe guda, ina tsara ɗan daidaito tsakanin haɗari da lada. A gefe guda kuma, ina ci gaba da yin ƙoƙarin gano haɗari." Wannan bishiyar da aka gyara ta hanyar kwayoyin halitta na iya zama barazana ga gandun daji. Sabanin haka, "shafin da ke ƙasa da ladan yana cike da tawada." Ya ce ƙwarya da ke tsayayya da bushewa zai yi nasara a wannan dajin da ke fama da rikici. Mutane suna buƙatar bege. Mutane suna buƙatar alamomi."
Powell yakan kasance cikin natsuwa, amma masu shakka game da injiniyan kwayoyin halitta na iya girgiza shi. Ya ce: "Ba su da ma'ana a gare ni." "Ba a gina su akan kimiyya ba." Lokacin da injiniyoyi ke samar da motoci ko wayoyin komai da ruwanka mafi kyau, babu wanda ke korafi, don haka yana son sanin abin da ke damun bishiyoyin da aka tsara mafi kyau. "Wannan kayan aiki ne da zai iya taimakawa," in ji Powell. "Me yasa kuke cewa ba za mu iya amfani da wannan kayan aikin ba? Za mu iya amfani da sukudireba na Phillips, amma ba sukudireba na yau da kullun ba, kuma akasin haka?"
A farkon watan Oktoba na 2018, na raka Powell zuwa wani wuri mai sauƙi a kudancin Syracuse. Yana fatan makomar nau'in ƙwaro na Amurka za ta girma. Wurin ya kusan zama babu kowa, kuma yana ɗaya daga cikin wurare kaɗan da ake barin bishiyoyi su girma. Dogayen gonakin pine da larch, samfurin wani aikin bincike da aka daɗe ana yi watsi da shi, suna karkata zuwa gabas, nesa da iskar da ke mamaye yankin, suna ba yankin wani yanayi mai ban tsoro.
Mai bincike Andrew Newhouse a dakin gwaje-gwajen Powell ya riga ya fara aiki a kan ɗaya daga cikin mafi kyawun bishiyoyi ga masana kimiyya, wani nau'in gyada na daji daga kudancin Virginia. Itacen yana da tsayin ƙafa 25 kuma yana girma a cikin wani lambun gyada da aka shirya ba zato ba tsammani wanda aka kewaye shi da shingen barewa mai tsayin ƙafa 10. An ɗaure jakar makaranta a ƙarshen wasu rassan bishiyar. Newhouse ya bayyana cewa jakar filastik ta ciki ta makale a cikin fulawar Darling 58 da masana kimiyya suka nema a watan Yuni, yayin da jakar raga ta ƙarfe ta waje ta hana squirrels girma. Duk tsarin yana ƙarƙashin kulawa mai ƙarfi daga Ma'aikatar Noma ta Amurka; kafin a soke dokoki, dole ne a ware pollen ko goro daga bishiyoyi masu ɗauke da kwayoyin halitta a cikin shinge ko a cikin dakin binciken mai binciken.
An yi amfani da yanke rassan da za a iya cirewa a Newhouse. Bayan an ja su da igiya, sai ruwan wukar ya karye, jakar kuma ta faɗi. Newhouse ta koma reshen da ke gaba da aka saka jakar ta gaba ta sake maimaita aikin. Powell ya tattara jakunkunan da suka faɗi ya sanya su a cikin babban jakar shara ta filastik, kamar yadda ake sarrafa kayan da ke haifar da haɗari ga halittu.
Bayan sun koma dakin gwaje-gwaje, Newhouse da Hannah Pilkey sun zubar da jakar suka kuma cire goro mai launin ruwan kasa daga busassun kore. Suna kula da kada su bari ƙaya su shiga fata, wanda hakan babban haɗari ne a binciken ƙwaro. A da, suna son duk goro masu daraja da aka gyara ta hanyar halitta. A wannan karon, a ƙarshe sun sami abubuwa da yawa: sama da 1,000. "Duk muna yin ƙananan rawa masu daɗi," in ji Pirkey.
Daga baya a wannan rana, Powell ya kai gyadar zuwa ofishin Neil Patterson a falon. Ranar 'Yan Asalin Jama'a ce (Ranar Columbus), kuma Patterson, Mataimakin Darakta na Cibiyar 'Yan Asalin Jama'a da Muhalli ta ESF, ya dawo daga kwata na harabar makarantar, inda ya jagoranci wani zanga-zangar abinci na 'yan asalin ƙasar. 'Ya'yansa biyu da 'yar'uwarsa suna wasa a kwamfuta a ofishin. Kowa ya bare ya ci gyada. "Har yanzu suna ɗan kore," in ji Powell cikin nadama.
Kyautar Powell tana da amfani da yawa. Yana rarraba iri, yana fatan amfani da hanyar sadarwa ta Patterson don shuka gyada a sabbin wurare, inda za su iya samun furen da aka gyara a cikin 'yan shekaru. Ya kuma shiga cikin diflomasiyya mai kyau ta gyada.
Lokacin da ESF ta ɗauki Patterson aiki a shekarar 2014, ya ji cewa Powell yana gwaji da bishiyoyin da aka ƙera ta hanyar halitta, waɗanda suke da nisan mil kaɗan daga Yankin Mazauna Onondaga Nation. Na ƙarshen yana cikin dajin mil kaɗan a kudu da Syracuse. Patterson ya fahimci cewa idan aikin ya yi nasara, kwayoyin halittar da ke jure wa cututtuka za su shiga ƙasar su haɗu da sauran ƙwarin da ke wurin, ta haka ne za su canza dajin da ke da mahimmanci ga asalin Onodaga. Ya kuma ji game da damuwar da ke sa masu fafutuka, ciki har da wasu daga al'ummomin 'yan asalin ƙasar, su yi adawa da ƙwayoyin halitta da aka ƙera ta hanyar halitta a wasu wurare. Misali, a shekarar 2015, ƙabilar Yurok ta haramta wuraren ajiyar GMO a Arewacin California saboda damuwa game da yiwuwar gurɓata amfanin gona da kamun kifi na salmon.
"Na fahimci cewa wannan ya faru da mu a nan; ya kamata mu yi tattaunawa aƙalla." A taron Hukumar Kare Muhalli ta 2015 da ESF ta gudanar, Powell ya yi jawabi mai kyau ga 'yan asalin New York. Bayan jawabin, Patterson ya tuna cewa shugabanni da dama sun ce: "Ya kamata mu dasa bishiyoyi!" Sha'awarsu ta ba Patterson mamaki. Ya ce: "Ban yi tsammanin hakan ba."
Duk da haka, tattaunawa daga baya ta nuna cewa kaɗan ne daga cikinsu suka tuna rawar da bishiyar chestnut ta taka a al'adun gargajiyarta. Binciken da Patterson ya yi ya nuna masa cewa a lokacin da rikicin zamantakewa da lalata muhalli ke faruwa a lokaci guda, gwamnatin Amurka tana aiwatar da wani gagarumin shirin rage yawan jama'a da kuma daidaita su, kuma annobar ta zo. Kamar sauran abubuwa da yawa, al'adun chestnut na yankin sun ɓace. Patterson ya kuma gano cewa ra'ayoyi kan injiniyan kwayoyin halitta sun bambanta sosai. Kamfanin Onoda mai kera sandar lacrosse Alfie Jacques yana sha'awar yin sanduna daga itacen chestnut kuma yana goyon bayan aikin. Wasu suna tunanin cewa haɗarin ya yi yawa don haka yana adawa da bishiyoyi.
Patterson ya fahimci waɗannan matsayi guda biyu. Kwanan nan ya ce mini: "Kamar wayar hannu ce da ɗana." Ya nuna cewa ɗansa yana dawowa gida daga makaranta saboda annobar cutar korona. "Wata rana na fita duk abin da zan iya; don ci gaba da tuntuɓar su, suna koyo. Washegari, kamar, bari mu kawar da waɗannan abubuwan." Amma shekaru da yawa na tattaunawa da Powell ya rage shakkunsa. Ba da daɗewa ba, ya fahimci cewa matsakaicin 'ya'yan bishiyoyi 58 na Darling ba za su sami kwayoyin halittar da aka gabatar ba, wanda ke nufin cewa asalin ƙwarƙwaran daji za su ci gaba da girma a cikin daji. Patterson ya ce wannan ya kawar da babbar matsala.
A lokacin ziyararmu a watan Oktoba, ya gaya mini cewa dalilin da ya sa bai iya tallafawa aikin GM gaba ɗaya ba shine saboda bai san ko Powell yana kula da mutanen da ke hulɗa da itacen ko itacen ba. "Ban san abin da ke tare da shi ba," in ji Patterson, yana taɓa ƙirjinsa. Ya ce sai dai idan za a iya dawo da dangantakar da ke tsakanin mutum da chestnut, shin ya zama dole a sake dawo da wannan bishiyar.
Don haka, ya ce yana shirin amfani da goro da Powell ya ba shi don yin pudding na chestnut da mai. Zai kawo waɗannan abincin zuwa yankin Onondaga kuma ya gayyaci mutane su sake gano tsoffin dandanon su. Ya ce: "Ina fatan haka ne, kamar gaishe da tsohon abokina ne. Kawai kana buƙatar shiga bas daga inda ka tsaya a karo na ƙarshe."
Powell ya sami kyautar dala miliyan 3.2 daga Gidauniyar Jinƙai ta Duniya ta Templeton a watan Janairu, wanda zai ba Powell damar ci gaba yayin da yake kewaya hukumomin kula da harkokin mulki da kuma faɗaɗa mayar da hankali kan bincikensa daga kwayoyin halitta zuwa ainihin gaskiyar gyaran yanayin ƙasa baki ɗaya. Idan gwamnati ta ba shi albarka, Powell da masana kimiyya daga Gidauniyar Chestnut ta Amurka za su fara barin ta yi fure. Za a hura ko a goge pollen da ƙarin kwayoyin halittarta a kan kwantena na wasu bishiyoyi, kuma makomar chestnut da aka gyara za ta bayyana ba tare da la'akari da yanayin gwaji da aka sarrafa ba. Idan aka yi la'akari da cewa za a iya kiyaye kwayar halittar a fagen da kuma a dakin gwaje-gwaje, wannan ba shi da tabbas, kuma zai bazu a cikin daji - wannan batu ne na muhalli da masana kimiyya ke so amma masu tsattsauran ra'ayi suna tsoro.
Bayan an cire itacen gyada, za ku iya siyan ɗaya? Eh, in ji Newhouse, wannan shine shirin. Ana tambayar masu bincike kowane mako lokacin da ake samun bishiyoyi.
A duniyar da Powell, Newhouse da abokan aikinsa ke zaune, yana da sauƙi a ji cewa duk ƙasar tana jiran bishiyarsu. Duk da haka, tuƙi daga arewa daga gonar bincike ta cikin tsakiyar birnin Syracuse yana tunatar da yadda manyan canje-canje suka faru a muhalli da al'umma tun bayan ɓacewar ƙwaro na Amurka. Chestnut Heights Drive yana cikin wani ƙaramin gari a arewacin Syracuse. Titin zama ne na yau da kullun tare da manyan hanyoyin shiga, ciyawa masu kyau, da kuma wasu lokutan ƙananan bishiyoyi masu ado da aka cika da farfajiyar gaba. Kamfanin katako ba ya buƙatar farfaɗo da ƙwaro. Tattalin arzikin noma mai wadatar kansa wanda ya dogara da ƙwaro ya ɓace gaba ɗaya. Kusan babu wanda ke cire goro mai laushi da zaki daga ƙwaro mai tauri. Yawancin mutane ba za su ma san cewa babu abin da ya ɓace a cikin daji ba.
Na tsaya na ci abincin dare na musamman a gefen tafkin Onondaga a ƙarƙashin inuwar babban itacen toka mai launin fari. Itacen ya cika da furanni masu launin toka mai haske. Ina iya ganin ramukan da kwari suka yi a cikin bawon. Yana fara rasa ganyensa kuma yana iya mutuwa ya ruguje bayan 'yan shekaru. Kawai don in zo nan daga gidana da ke Maryland, na tuka mota ta wuce dubban bishiyoyin toka da suka mutu, tare da rassan fork masu laushi suna tashi a gefen hanya.
A Appalachia, kamfanin ya cire bishiyoyi daga wani babban yanki na Bitlahua don samun kwal a ƙasa. Zuciyar ƙasar kwal ta yi daidai da zuciyar tsohuwar ƙasar kwal. Gidauniyar American Chestnut ta yi aiki tare da ƙungiyoyi waɗanda suka dasa bishiyoyi a ma'adinan kwal da aka yi watsi da su, kuma bishiyoyin chestnut yanzu suna girma a kan dubban kadada na ƙasar da bala'in ya shafa. Waɗannan bishiyoyin wani ɓangare ne kawai na hybrid waɗanda ke jure wa ƙwayoyin cuta, amma suna iya zama alaƙa da sabuwar ƙarni na bishiyoyi waɗanda wata rana za su iya yin gogayya da tsoffin manyan dazuzzuka.
A watan Mayun da ya gabata, yawan iskar carbon dioxide a cikin sararin samaniya ya kai kashi 414.8 a kowace miliyan a karon farko. Kamar sauran bishiyoyi, nauyin itacen chestnut na Amurka wanda ba shi da ruwa ya kai kusan rabin carbon. Abubuwa kaɗan ne za ku iya shukawa a ƙasa za su iya shan carbon daga iska da sauri fiye da itacen chestnut mai girma. Da wannan a zuciya, wani labarin da aka buga a Wall Street Journal a bara ya ba da shawara, "Bari mu sake samun wani gonar chestnut."