Cauliflower plant producing high-yield small floret accompanied by length of stem part and method for producing processed product thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are: a cauliflower plant which is suitable for a cauliflower processed product divided into small florets and which enables the production of high-yield small florets accompanied by length of a stem part; and a processed product of the cauliflower plant. The cauliflower plant according to the present invention has in the nuclear genome thereof a gene involved in small floret production that enables the production of high-yield small florets accompanied by length of a stem part. The cauliflower plant according to the present invention is easily processed into small florets, making it possible to provide a cauliflower product divided into small florets having a high commercial value.

Description

Cauliflower plant that produces high-yield small flower buds with an axial length and method for producing processed products thereof

[0001] The present invention relates to a cauliflower plant that produces high-yield small flower buds with an axial length, and a method for producing processed small flower bud products from the cauliflower plant.

[0002] Plants of the Brassicaceae family are plant species originating from the Middle East and the Mediterranean coast, and plants of the Brassica genus include extremely important crops in agriculture. Among them, Brassica oleracea L. is an extremely important plant species including Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata (cabbage), B. oleracea L. var. italica (broccoli), B. oleracea L. var. botrytis (cauliflower), B. oleracea L. var. gemmifera (sprouting broccoli), B. oleracea L. var. gongylodes (kohlrabi), B. oleracea L. var. acephala (collard greens, kale), B. oleracea L. var. alboglabra (kai-lan), etc.

[0003] Cauliflower, a plant of the genus Brassica in the Brassicaceae family, is known as a vegetable rich in nutrients such as vitamins and minerals and has been used since ancient times around the world. In Japan, along with the Westernization of the postwar diet, it has become widely recognized as a popular vegetable along with asparagus and celery, which are also white vegetables.

[0004] Generally, plant varieties include fixed varieties and first-generation hybrid (hereinafter referred to as "F1") varieties, and F1 varieties are widespread in many crops. The history of the use of edible cauliflower is longer than that of broccoli, a similar flower vegetable, and it is known that there are fixed varieties rooted locally all over the world. Currently, most of them are in a situation where F1 varieties are used, but there are confirmed areas where fixed varieties are still used, such as some regions in Asia.

[0005] The desirable characteristics of cauliflower florets include a dome shape, denseness, and weight, and cauliflower florets possessing these characteristics are traded in the market. On the other hand, cauliflower plants suitable for cauliflower products separated into florets should have a high yield of florets, uniform floret size, tight clusters of florets, and excellent taste, in addition to being easy to separate and process after harvest.

[0006] In Taiwan, loose cauliflower, with its less tightly packed florets, has long been favored for its superior taste compared to traditional cauliflower. In China, one of the world's leading cauliflower-consuming countries, loose cauliflower (also known as Songhua cai) exploded in popularity in the 2010s due to its excellent taste, and currently accounts for over 90% of the market.

[0007] A suitable cauliflower for loose cauliflower cultivation is proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-5559 (Patent Document 1). The cauliflower disclosed therein grows quickly and its flower stalk is 1.2 times longer than that of conventional cauliflower varieties. The publication states that the flower stalk is 10 cm long, along with a photograph of the flower bud. However, image analysis using the method described below reveals that the disclosed cauliflower only has a stem length of 5.4 cm or less and a diameter of over 8.0 cm.

[0008] Many varieties of loose cauliflower have been developed, primarily by Taiwanese companies such as Chinglong (see Chinglong's website and Non-Patent Literature 1). In recent years, companies outside of Taiwan have also been actively developing new varieties, with Chinese companies such as Tianjin Huier Seed Technology Co., Ltd. creating many new varieties (see Chinglong's website and Non-Patent Literature 2). Currently, the majority of the market is already dominated by Chinese varieties rather than Taiwanese ones. Tokita Seed Co., Ltd. also sells loose cauliflower varieties under the brand names "Califlore" in Japan and "Fioretto" overseas (see Chinglong's website and Non-Patent Literature 3 and 4).

[0009] Furthermore, Agromark of Spain markets loose cauliflower under the brand name Fiorina (company website, Non-Patent Document 5), and Mann Packing of the United States markets loose cauliflower under the brand name Caulilini (company website, Non-Patent Document 6).

[0010] Sakata Seed Corporation sells stem broccoli varieties under brands such as Tender Stem (registered trademark) and BIMI (registered trademark). These varieties are characterized by their ease of preparation, good taste, long stems that allow for diverse culinary uses, and excellent functional properties as a green and yellow vegetable, leading to increasing consumption worldwide.

[0011] As mentioned above, while there have been proposals for loose cauliflower plants focusing on taste and broccoli plants focusing on stems, there has been no sufficient and reliable proposal for a cauliflower plant that produces high yields of florets after harvest and whose floret stems are uniformly long.

[0012] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-5559

[0013] http: / / www.chinglongseed.com / e_products--1.htm http: / / www.hybreq.com / https: / / www.tokitaseed.co.jp / cauliflorespecialsite.php https: / / oishiinippon.it / en / prodotto / fioretto / https: / / fiorina.es / en / https: / / www.veggiesmadeeasy.com / foodservice / products / caulilini-baby-cauliflower /

[0014] The inventors have now discovered a new cauliflower plant that possesses desirable cauliflower bud traits, produces high-yielding florets with long stems, and includes the genetic trait of long floret stems. This invention is based on these findings.

[0015] Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a cauliflower plant that enables the production of high-yielding florets with a long stem, a cauliflower plant that produces high-yielding florets with a long stem, and a method for producing a floret product from this cauliflower plant.

[0016] Furthermore, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention is a cauliflower plant, or its offspring, that has genes in its nuclear genome that are involved in floret formation, enabling the production of high-yielding florets with a long stalk.

[0017] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention is a cauliflower plant or its offspring in which the genes involved in the formation of florets are capable of expressing a genetic trait such that, when the diameter of the floret bulb is 15.0 cm or more and 24.0 cm or less, the ratio (%) of the number of floret parts that weigh 10 g or more to the total number of floret parts is 2.0 cm or more and 8.0 cm or less in diameter, the length of the floret stalk is at least 7.0 cm or more, and the weight is at least 10 g or more, is at least 35.2%.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a product is provided which includes a cauliflower plant or a part of a cauliflower plant, and the product includes a cauliflower plant and packaging material containing it, or a part of a cauliflower plant and packaging material containing it.

[0019] The present invention provides a cauliflower plant that produces high-yielding florets with a long stem while possessing traits similar to desirable cauliflower florets. Furthermore, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention facilitates the processing of cauliflower florets, making it possible to provide cauliflower products separated into highly marketable florets. Moreover, by using the cauliflower plant according to the present invention as a parent line, it becomes possible to cultivate a cauliflower line that produces high-yielding florets with a long stem.

[0020] This is a schematic diagram showing a cauliflower plant that produces high-yielding florets with a long stem, where (A) is a diagram illustrating the floret bulb and (B) is a diagram illustrating the florets (floret parts). This is a photograph of cauliflower variety line F obtained in Example 6 of the examples, viewed from above the top. This is a photograph of cauliflower variety line K obtained in Example 9 of the examples, with florets cut from the main stem or secondary stem, i.e., the floret parts, arranged in order of visual size. This is a photograph showing an example of a cauliflower floret product that produces high-yielding florets with a long stem. In the figure, (A) is an example of a product in which the florets of cauliflower variety F are packaged individually using a plastic tray, (B) is an example of a product in which the florets of cauliflower variety H obtained in Example 7 are packaged individually using a plastic tray, (C) is an example of a product in which cauliflower variety F and the stem broccoli variety Stick Senor are mixed and packaged using a plastic bag, (D) is an example of a product in which cauliflower variety F and the stem broccoli variety V exhibiting purple color are mixed and packaged using a plastic bag, (E) is an example of a product in which cauliflower variety F and the stem broccoli variety Stick Senor are mixed and packaged using a plastic tray, and (F) is an example of a product in which cauliflower variety F and the stem broccoli variety V exhibiting purple color are mixed and packaged using a plastic tray.

[0021] In connection with this disclosure of seed deposits, the following deposits 1 through 4 have been made. Deposit 1 Accession number: FERM BP-22498 Identification mark: SSC-CFL-24-001 Date of deposit: June 18, 2024 Deposit 2 Accession number: FERM BP-22499 Identification mark: SSC-CFL-24-002 Date of deposit: June 18, 2024 Deposit 3 Accession number: FERM BP-22500 Identification mark: SSC-CFL-24-003 Date of deposit: June 18, 2024 Deposit 4 Accession number: FERM BP-22501 Identification mark: SSC-CFL-24-004 Date of deposit: June 18, 2024 Depositing institution (for all deposits 1 through 4) National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) Patent Organism Depositary Center (NITE-IPOD) Room 120, 2-5-8 Kazusa Kamatari, Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture

[0022] In this disclosure, "cauliflower" means cauliflower of the Brassica oleracea L. var. bottletis, "kailan" means kailan of the same Brassica oleracea L. var. alboglabra, and "broccoli" means broccoli of the same Brassica oleracea L. var. italica. Other plants in the Brassica olacea species include cabbage (B. olacea var. capitata), Brussels sprouts (B. olacea var. gemmifera), kohlrabi (B. olacea var. gongyloides), ornamental cabbage, and kale (B. olacea var. acephara). Furthermore, plants obtained by crossing cauliflower, Chinese broccoli, broccoli, or the aforementioned Brassica olacea species are sometimes simply referred to as Brassica varieties.

[0023] In the present invention and this specification, "flower bud bulb" means a collection of small flower buds. Furthermore, a flower bud bulb may consist of a terminal flower bud, lateral flower buds, or a collection of a terminal flower bud and lateral flower buds.

[0024] In the present invention and this specification, "flower bud bulb" includes not only the entire flower bud bulb but also a part thereof. Furthermore, when referring to a "flower bud bulb," it may simply be called a "flower bud," "head," or "card."

[0025] In the present invention and this specification, "small flower bud" means a group of non-flowering broccoli or cauliflower flower buds accompanied by a main stem that supports them, or secondary, tertiary, or other stem portions that branch off from the main stem, which may or may not be in contact and collectively form a flower bud bulb. Here, with respect to the stem portions, those that branch off from the main stem are called secondary stems, and stems that further branch off from the secondary stem until a single filament supports individual flower buds are called tertiary stems, quaternary stems, etc. When referring to "small flower buds," they are sometimes simply called "spears." Also, "small flower buds" are sometimes called "flower stalks."

[0026] In the present invention and this specification, "small flower bud portion" means a small flower bud consisting of a group of non-flowering broccoli or cauliflower flower buds and the stalk supporting them being the main stem or secondary stem, where this secondary stem may have branching such as tertiary stems and quaternary stems. In other words, in the present invention, "small flower bud portion" means a "small flower bud" supported by the main stem or a secondary stem that branches directly from the main stem, and as long as it is supported by the main stem or secondary stem, it means a "small flower bud" that includes all the groups of flower buds at the end of tertiary stems, quaternary stems, etc. (small flower bud aggregate portion) and the stalk portion (small flower bud stem). Also, "small flower bud portion" may be called "small flower bud on the main stem or secondary stem." Therefore, a small flower bud (spare) consists of a small flower bud aggregate portion and a small flower bud stalk portion (small flower bud stem).

[0027] In the present invention and this specification, when referring to the florets of cauliflower, they may be called "floret cards." Similarly, the "floret portion" of cauliflower may be called the "floret card portion."

[0028] In the present invention and this specification, the length of a floret means the length from the top of the floret to the tip of the stem, and consists of the sum of the length of the floret axis (length of the floret stem) and the length of the floret cluster.

[0029] The above terms can be explained as follows based on Figure 1. Figure 1(A) is a schematic diagram of a cauliflower flower bud 1, in which a cluster of multiple small flower buds 10 constitutes a flower bud bulb 20. The flower bud bulb 20 is supported by a stem, and the stem first grows as a main stem 31, which is defined as the primary stem. Stems branch out from this main stem 31, and the stems that grow from the main stem 31 are defined as secondary stems 32, the stems that branch out from these secondary stems 32 are defined as tertiary stems 33, and the stems that branch out further from those are defined as quaternary stems (not shown).

[0030] Furthermore, Figure 1(B) is a schematic diagram illustrating the floret 10. As defined above, the "floret portion" refers to a floret where a group of non-flowering broccoli or cauliflower flower buds and the supporting stalk are the main stem or secondary stem. In the figure, the floret portion 40 is obtained by cutting the secondary stem 32 that extends from the main stem 31 in Figure 1(A) near its base. The florets supported by the secondary stem 32 remain as a single unit and do not separate. The florets in the region above the point 50 closest to the florets on the stem are defined as the floret cluster portion 21. The stem supporting this floret cluster portion 21 is defined as the floret stalk portion 22. The floret stalk portion is also called the floret stem. Furthermore, for the floret cluster portion 21, the length from the top of the floret to point 50, i.e., the length of (a) in Figure 1(B), is defined as the length of the floret cluster portion, and the length from point 50 to the lower end of the stem 32, i.e., the length of (b) in Figure 1(B), is defined as the length of the floret axis portion.

[0031] The reason why the main stem is included in the axis supporting the "small flower bud portion" here is to account for cases where it may be difficult to distinguish between the main stem and the secondary stem supporting the small flower bud cluster portion after removing the small flower bud axis, which is a secondary stem supporting the small flower bud portion.

[0032] As described below, according to one aspect of the present invention, the length of the floret stalk (floret stem) is more preferably 7 cm or less, and can be adjusted to 7 cm or less, in order to 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 to 1 cm, or to be the same as the diameter of the floret. On the other hand, florets whose diameter or shape has been adjusted by separating, cutting, or shaving the floret cluster in a transverse, longitudinal, or oblique manner are not included in the definition of "floret portion" in the present invention. In the present invention, the satisfaction of the numerical conditions of the "floret portion ratio" of the present invention described below is evaluated based on the shape of the florets obtained through cultivation.

[0033] In the present invention and this specification, "diameter of the flower bud" refers to either the value calculated by dividing the sum of the value measured as the short axis length and the value measured as the long axis length when viewing the flower bud from the top direction by 2, or the width value when viewing the flower bud from the side direction.

[0034] In the present invention and this specification, "diameter of the floret" refers to either the value calculated by dividing the sum of the short axis length and the long axis length measured when viewing the floret from the top by 2, or the maximum width value when viewing the floret from the side. Therefore, in the present invention, "diameter of the floret portion" also refers to either the value calculated by dividing the sum of the short axis length and the long axis length measured when viewing the "floret portion" from the top by 2, or the maximum width value when viewing the "floret portion" from the side. Figure 1(B)(c) is a view of the floret portion from the side when measuring the "diameter of the floret portion". According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the floret of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention, particularly the "floret portion", is formed in a nearly perfect circular shape when viewed from above at its widest point.

[0035] In this disclosure, the lengths of the measured objects, such as the diameter of the flower head and individual flower heads, are measured at the time of harvest. In addition to measuring directly with a measuring tape or calipers, the size and length may also be measured by analyzing captured images. For example, a photograph of the cauliflower flower head from the top or side may be taken, and a line may be drawn on the captured image using a paint tool on a personal computer or tablet to distinguish the entire flower head area from the background. Then, the diameter and length of each individual flower head may be measured from the processed image with the boundary line drawn using image analysis software (such as ImageJ). The diameter and length of the flower head can also be measured in a similar manner.

[0036] In the present invention and this specification, "contact" of a flower bud means that, when the flower bud is viewed from above the top, the outer edge of a flower bud card is in contact with another flower bud card within the flower bud. In the present invention and this specification, preferably the form of the flower bud includes both cases in which the flower buds are in contact with each other or not.

[0037] In the present invention and this specification, "part of a plant" includes cells, tissues, or organs of the plant, specifically including fruits, seeds, flowers, pollen, anthers, leaves, stems, roots, embryos, hypocotyls, meristematic cells, callus, etc., and also includes protoplasts obtained from the cells of the plant. Furthermore, in Brassica plants, among the aforementioned plant cells, tissues, or organs, there have been reports of redifferentiation from the hypocotyl, cotyledons, explants from young unfolded leaves, seeds, shoot apical tissue, and stem leaf primordia. In particular, cauliflower buds are formed from a mass of cells in the inflorescence meristem where the floral organs are undifferentiated, but to the best of the inventor's knowledge, there are no reports of totipotent redifferentiation from epidermal cells or other sufficiently differentiated cells, tissues, or organs in buds, florets, or stem parts. Furthermore, to the inventor's knowledge, there are no reported cases of totipotent redifferentiation from cells, tissues, or organs of flower buds or florets supplied as processed or frozen products.

[0038] In the present invention and this specification, the product includes heated, boiled, sliced, dyed, fermented, and freeze-dried cauliflower heads, florets, spares, small florets, or stems of small florets. In addition, it also includes products that have been colored, soaked in vinegar or oil, further broken into smaller pieces after slicing, minced, dried, or powdered.

[0039] The cauliflower plant according to the present invention is a cauliflower plant that has genes in its nuclear genome that are involved in the formation of florets, enabling the production of high-yielding florets with a long stalk.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention is best harvested when the diameter of the flower head is 15.0 cm or more and 24.0 cm or less.

[0041] Here, "production of high-yielding small flower buds with a long stalk" preferably means that when the diameter of the flower bud bulb is 15.0 cm or more and 24.0 cm or less, the ratio (%) of the number of small flower bud parts that weigh 10 g or more, have a diameter of 2.0 cm or more and 8.0 cm or less, have a stalk length of at least 7.0 cm or more, and weigh at least 10 g or more, to the total number of small flower bud parts that weigh 10 g or more (small flower bud part ratio), i.e., ([number of small flower bud parts with a diameter of 2.0 cm or more and stalk length of 7.0 cm or more and weighing 10 g or more / number of small flower bud parts weighing 10 g or more] × 100) is at least 35.2% of the small flower buds produced. Furthermore, in the following description, the "ratio (%) of the number of small flower buds weighing 10g or more to the total number of small flower buds weighing 10g or more, with a diameter of 2.0cm or more and a stem length of 7.0cm or more, and a weight of 10g or more" when the diameter of the flower bud bulb is 15.0cm or more and 24.0cm or less" may be abbreviated as "small flower bud ratio".

[0042] According to one aspect of the present invention, the "percentage of florets" is preferably 35% or more, 40% or more, 45% or more, or 50% or more. In the most preferred aspect, this "percentage of florets" is 55% or more, 60% or more, 65% or more, 70% or more, 75% or more, 80% or more, 85% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, or 100%.

[0043] Furthermore, when the diameter of the flower bud is 15.0 cm or more and 24.0 cm or less, the number of flower buds that have a diameter of 2.0 cm or more and 8.0 cm or less, a stalk length of at least 7.0 cm or more, and a flower bud weight of at least 10 g or more is preferably 3.9 or more, more preferably 4 or more, 5 or more, 6 or more, 7 or more, 8 or more, 9 or more, or 10 or more. Moreover, in the cauliflower plant according to the present invention, the number of flower buds that have a diameter of 2.0 cm or more and 8.0 cm or less, a stalk length of at least 7.0 cm or more, and a flower bud weight of at least 10 g or more is preferably more than 11, more preferably more than 13.

[0044] The cauliflower plant according to the present invention has a longitudinal size of the flower bud head, preferably about 20 cm from its top. Therefore, in the cauliflower plant according to the present invention, the main stem of the flower bud head can be trimmed to a length of 25 cm from the top of the flower bud head, preferably to a length of 22 cm, and more preferably to a length of 20 cm.

[0045] The cauliflower plant according to the present invention has, as a gene involved in the production of small flower buds, a gene in the nuclear genome that enables the production of "high-yield small flower buds with an axis length" as described above. Therefore, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention includes plants having the gene in the nuclear genome and expressing the genetic trait, and in addition, the plant includes the gene but does not express it, and the genetic trait will be expressed in its progeny cauliflower plants are also included.

[0046] In the present disclosure, "having a gene involved in the production of small flower buds in the nuclear genome that enables the production of high-yield small flower buds with an axis length" may be expressed as "including a genetic trait of producing high-yield small flower buds with an axis length" or "including a small flower bud production trait with an axis length".

[0047] The cauliflower plant according to the present invention has a novel trait suitable for the processing of small flower buds, that is, the yield of small flower buds with an axis length is high. As a cauliflower small flower bud product, a product with a small flower bud diameter of 2.0 cm to 8.0 cm can be eaten in one, two or three bites of the small flower bud part. In addition, a delicious stem that is not present in the stem of the conventional cauliflower can also be eaten together. Such small flower buds can be used in various ways from the perspective of cooking. Therefore, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention, which has a large amount of small flower buds of the above-mentioned size range, is suitable for the demand for cooking or processing of small flower buds.

[0048] Also, compared with the case where the diameter of the small flower bud is adjusted to 2.0 cm to 8.0 cm or the shape is processed by cutting or shaving the small flower bud part, etc., the present invention is advantageous in terms of appearance. Further, the present invention is also advantageous in that it is possible to avoid deterioration, discoloration from the cutting part, etc., and even the risk of propagation of various bacteria from the cut surface. The small flower buds can be further separated into small flower bud aggregate parts products or stem products, and these can be packaged separately or mixed to be used as another product. Furthermore, it also has the advantage of reducing the loss due to the disposal of small flower buds and other parts that are difficult to use as target products.

[0049] Also, in the cauliflower plant according to the present invention, since the length of the axial part of the "small flower bud part", that is, the "small flower bud of the main stem or secondary stem" is sufficiently long, if small flower buds with a sufficiently long accompanying axial part, that is, the small flower bud stem, are cut off from the main stem or secondary stem, small flower buds with uniform size can be obtained. Such processing operations on the main stem or secondary stem can reduce the number of steps and lead to a shortening of the working time, so it can be said that they have particularly desirable properties as processed products.

[0050] The cauliflower plant according to the present invention has the characteristics that the diameter of the small flower bud is 2.0 cm or more and 8.0 cm or less, the length of the small flower bud axial part is at least 7.0 cm or more, and in addition, the yield of the small flower bud part where the weight of each small flower bud is 10 g or more is high. As one aspect of the use of this feature in cooking, it is assumed to be used as an accompaniment to meat or fish dishes. Here, for example, in the case of hamburger dishes that are popular among children and the elderly as well as adults, small flower buds of 10 g or more can exhibit a presence and look good. Also, when the small flower buds of the cauliflower according to the present invention are used as the main ingredient of the food, it is assumed that the presence as the main dish will increase because they are 10 g or more.

[0051] Conversely, small flower buds weighing less than 10 grams may be less satisfying to consumers, have a less appealing appearance, and are significantly less marketable. For processors, this translates to lower yields for processed products, and makes it difficult to meet consumer demand in terms of purchase price. Naturally, this leads to a decrease in profitability for both produce producers and processors as a result of more inferior products, and ultimately results in increased waste.

[0052] Generally, characteristics of an agricultural product include the structure, shape, and taste of the florets, as well as ease of cultivation. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention possesses characteristics other than those that produce high-yielding florets with long floret stems, particularly characteristics as an agricultural product that are the same as or very similar to those of conventional cauliflower curd. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention can be packaged with fewer processing steps by aligning the diameter of the florets and the length of the floret stems, enabling the provision of a high-value-added product. The present invention also includes cauliflower plants in which anthocyanin expression is promoted, and by using these alone or in combination, further color appeal becomes possible. In addition, as a product package, it is possible to propose a series of products together with conventional stem broccoli in addition to the floret cauliflower. Furthermore, it becomes possible to display each product simultaneously or package them together, contributing to retailers and further appealing to consumer purchasing intent.

[0053] Furthermore, because the cauliflower plant according to the present invention has a stem that is not found in conventional cauliflower, in addition to being commercialized as a spare part, the stem can be packaged separately for specific purposes, allowing for the creation of unprecedented products such as products consisting only of the stem, a mixture of stems derived solely from cauliflower, or a mixture of stems derived from broccoli stems. This also has the advantage of reducing waste.

[0054] In this disclosure, penetration hardness can be used as one of the indicators to represent the hardness of the floret stalk. Using a penetration-type hardness tester (commercially available fruit hardness tester (unit: N)) equipped with a cylindrical probe with a diameter of 2 mm, the probe is inserted perpendicularly from the skin side of the stalk toward the centerline, and the hardness of the skin portion can be evaluated from the maximum pressure at that time. Penetration hardness is also sometimes simply referred to as hardness.

[0055] The cauliflower plant according to the present invention is formed by introducing a gene that enables the production of high-yielding florets with a long stem, that is, a genetic trait that produces high-yielding florets with a long stem, into the cauliflower plant. The introduction of such a gene or genetic trait can be carried out, for example, by introducing a gene involved in floret production, which produces high-yielding florets with a long stem, into the nuclear genome of the cauliflower plant. The gene in the nuclear genome of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention may be homozygous or heterozygous.

[0056] According to one aspect of the present invention, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention may be derived from an "intraspecific hybrid plant" obtained by crossing cauliflower with cauliflower, or cauliflower with broccoli, kailan, or cauliflower. Therefore, in this aspect, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention is a plant individual that has inherited a chromosome containing a "gene that enables the production of high-yielding small florets with a long stalk." Here, "chromosome" includes not only the entire chromosome but also a part of it. That is, "a part of a chromosome" is also sometimes simply referred to as a "chromosome."

[0057] Furthermore, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention may also be an "interspecific hybrid plant," and in addition to plants resulting from interspecies hybridization among species belonging to the genus Brassica, it also includes somatic hybrid plants resulting from intraspecies and interspecies cell fusion among plants of the genus Brassica, and grafted hybrid plants obtained by intraspecies and interspecies grafting among plants of the genus Brassica.

[0058] Furthermore, "plants derived from intraspecific hybrids of cauliflower and other Brassica species" include not only the intraspecific hybrid plant itself but also its offspring. Even in offspring individuals that have inherited the "gene that enables the production of high-yielding florets with long stems" derived from Brassica species, the genetic trait of producing high-yielding florets can be expressed through that gene.

[0059] Furthermore, "the offspring of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention" includes not only the offspring obtained by intraspecific hybridization of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention, but also individuals obtained using the cauliflower plant according to the present invention as a parent line and their offspring, somatic hybrid plants obtained by cell fusion between cells of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention and other plant cells and their offspring, and individuals obtained by grafting using the cauliflower plant as a rootstock or scion and their offspring. Here, "offspring" includes both individuals obtained by intraspecific hybridization and individuals obtained by interspecific hybridization. Also, "individuals obtained using (the plant) as a parent line" means individuals obtained by intraspecific hybridization, interspecific hybridization, cell fusion, tissue culture, use of haploid production technology, or grafting using the plant as a parent line.

[0060] According to one aspect of the present invention, the introduction of a gene that enables the production of high-yielding small flower head curds with a long stem into genomic DNA can be carried out by a crossbreeding method using cauliflower and a Brassica genus plant having the trait of producing high-yielding small flower heads with a long stem as parent lines, by a method using genetic modification technology, or by a genetic modification method such as genome editing. However, there is a problem that crops produced by genetic modification or other genetic modification methods have not yet been widely accepted by the public.

[0061] The genetic trait of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention, which produces high-yielding small florets with a long stem, is recessively expressed and can be genetically fixed. Therefore, by using the cauliflower plant according to the present invention as a parent line for interspecific or intraspecific hybridization, it becomes possible to develop new lines of cauliflower that produce high-yielding small florets with a long stem.

[0062] Furthermore, in F1 hybrids obtained by crossing cauliflower plants according to the present invention with parent lines, it is possible to stably express the trait that exhibits recessive expression and produces high-yielding small flower head curds with a long stem.

[0063] Specific examples of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention include accession numbers FERM BP-22498 (SSC-CFL-24-001), FERM BP-22499 (SSC-CFL-24-002), FERM BP-22500 (SSC-CFL-24-003), and FERM BP-22501 (SSC-CFL-24-004), whose seeds are deposited as described above. The cauliflower plant according to the present invention includes the following embodiments based on the specific deposited plants.

[0064] In other words, cauliflower plants containing a "gene that enables the production of high-yielding florets with a long stem" or a "genetic trait that produces high-yielding florets with a long stem" derived from deposited plants are also included in the present invention.

[0065] In this disclosure, "includes" is synonymous with "possess".

[0066] Furthermore, cauliflower plants containing a gene that enables the production of high-yielding florets with a long stalk, or a genetic trait that produces high-yielding florets with a long stalk, as identified or represented by the deposited plants, are also included in the present invention.

[0067] Herein, in this disclosure, the terms "identified" or "represented" by the deposited plant include genes, heritable traits, sequences, chromosome fragments, or DNA fragments that are equivalent in function to, but not identical to, those present in the deposited plant.

[0068] Furthermore, cauliflower plants containing a gene that enables the production of high-yielding florets with a long stalk, or a genetic trait that produces high-yielding florets with a long stalk, which may be found in deposited plants, are also included in the present invention.

[0069] Herein, in this disclosure, the term "be foundable" gene, heritable trait, nucleotide sequence, chromosome fragment, or DNA fragment in a deposited plant means that it includes genes, heritable traits, nucleotide sequences, chromosome fragments, or DNA fragments that are equivalent in function to, but not identical to, the genes, heritable traits, nucleotide sequences, chromosome fragments, or DNA fragments "found" in a deposited plant.

[0070] Furthermore, the present invention includes hybrid plants obtained from a parent line of a cauliflower plant that produces high-yielding florets with a long stalk, as specified by accession numbers FERM BP-22498, FERM BP-22499, FERM BP-22500, or FERM BP-22501, or their progeny, which are cauliflower plants that produce high-yielding florets with a long stalk.

[0071] Method for producing cauliflower plants according to the present invention The production of cauliflower plants according to the present invention can preferably be carried out by crossing cauliflower with cauliflower, or with a plant obtained by crossing cauliflower with broccoli, Chinese broccoli, cauliflower, or Brassica line, and then producing cauliflower plants with a large "small floret part ratio" from the progeny of the obtained seeds, using this as an indicator.

[0072] In this disclosure, the term "manufacturing method" can also be rephrased as "generation method," "creation method," "cultivation method," or "production method." In other words, the terms "manufacturing," "generation," "creation," "cultivation," and "production" used herein are used interchangeably.

[0073] In the cauliflower production method according to the present invention, the cauliflower used as the parent line is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that it be a variety cultivated as an agricultural crop. Currently, the cauliflower distributed in Japan is mainly of the Single Head type. Single Head types are further divided into conventional varieties with tightly packed florets, Romanesco varieties, or loose cauliflower varieties with loosely packed florets. Single Head cauliflower varieties generally refer to cauliflower from which one floret head of about 20 cm in diameter is harvested from a single plant, but two or three or more florets of similar size may be harvested. Depending on the application, it has been reported that Single Head varieties can be commercially used up to a floret head diameter of about 20 cm, but depending on the intended use of the fresh produce, the floret head may be harvested to a diameter of about 25 cm or more. In this invention, the cauliflower used as the parent line is preferably an individual of a cauliflower line that is traded in Japan as a conventional single-head type cauliflower. By using the aforementioned cauliflower line, it is easy to create a new cauliflower plant that has the trait of producing high-yielding small florets with a long stem, due to the ease of visual selection.

[0074] In this disclosure, single-head cauliflower varieties with tightly packed florets may be simply referred to as "conventional cauliflower" or "standard cauliflower." In this case, loose cauliflower varieties with loosely packed florets are excluded.

[0075] A preferred method for producing cauliflower plants according to the present invention includes the steps of: crossing cauliflower with cauliflower, or crossing cauliflower with a plant obtained by crossing broccoli, Chinese broccoli, cauliflower, or Brassica line, and collecting the resulting F1 seeds; cultivating the F1 seeds and selecting them based on the indicators of high yield, high quality of florets, and relatively sufficient stem length, and collecting the seeds; self-pollinating or backcrossing the seeds collected from the selected plants, and then repeating the self-pollination or using haploid production technology to produce cauliflower plants that produce high-yielding florets with a long stem; backcrossing the produced cauliflower plants that produce high-yielding florets with a long stem as a backcross parent line to a cytoplasmic male-sterile line; and crossing the produced cauliflower plants that produce high-yielding florets with a long stem with each other. The number of repetitions of processes such as self-pollination and backcrossing is not particularly limited as long as it is one or more times; it may be two to three times, or even three or more times. During these processes, backcrossing, self-pollination, and cultivation can be carried out using the standard methods for cauliflower cultivation.

[0076] Production of F1 Seeds of Cauliflower Plants According to One Embodiment of the Present Invention, the cauliflower plants according to the present invention are provided as F1. A method for producing F1 seeds of cauliflower plants according to the present invention comprises the steps of crossing the cauliflower plants according to the present invention with the cauliflower plants according to the present invention, or with a plant other than the cauliflower plants according to the present invention, preferably a different strain of cauliflower plants having a genetic trait that produces high-yielding small flower heads with a long stem, and collecting F1 seeds from the individuals obtained by the cross.

[0077] The "genetic trait for producing high-yielding small flower heads with long stems" of cauliflower plants according to the present invention is recessively expressed. Therefore, by intraspecific hybridization with other cauliflower lines possessing this trait, or interspecific hybridization with Brassica plants that produce high-yielding small flower heads with long stems, F1 seeds can be obtained that produce flower heads with the trait for producing high-yielding small flower head curds with long stems. Hybridization and seed collection can be carried out by conventional methods.

[0078] According to one aspect of the present invention, F1 lines obtained by crossing cauliflower plants according to the present invention with parent lines express particularly desirable traits. Specifically, these are the combinations in the examples described below. That is, as the cauliflower plants used as parent lines, cauliflower lines A, B, C, CMS C, or D can be used. As F1 combinations, cross combinations produced from lines F, G, H, I, or K are preferred. Furthermore, cauliflower plants that produce high-yielding florets with long stems, produced by the cauliflower plant production method according to the present invention, can also be used.

[0079] Uses of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention: Breeding material The cauliflower plant according to the present invention can be used, for example, as a parent line for producing cauliflower plants that produce high-yielding florets with a new stem length, i.e., as breeding material. Furthermore, hybrid plants obtained using the cauliflower plant according to the present invention as a parent line, and their offspring, can similarly be used as parent lines for producing cauliflower plants that produce high-yielding florets with a new stem length.

[0080] Specifically, for example, by repeatedly backcrossing a cauliflower plant according to the present invention with any Brassica plant or an interspecific hybrid plant derived from a Brassica plant, a Brassica plant with the genetic trait of producing high-yielding small flower heads with a long stem can be produced.

[0081] Method for producing cauliflower florets according to the present invention The present invention provides a method for producing cauliflower florets, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a cauliflower plant according to the present invention; cutting the florets from the main stem or secondary stem from the flower head of the cauliflower plant; and optionally packaging the cut florets from the main stem or secondary stem.

[0082] As described above, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention has the characteristics of having long stalks on its florets and a high yield. In a preferred embodiment, the cauliflower plant according to the present invention has a "floret part ratio" of at least 35.2%, and therefore the stalks of the "florets on the main stem or secondary stem" are long and the yield is high. Furthermore, the florets include a uniform stem that extends from the floret cluster. If florets are cut from the main stem or secondary stem of such a cauliflower plant according to the present invention, a large number of florets with long stalks can be obtained. In one embodiment of the invention, it is preferable that the floret stalks be trimmed to be at least 7 cm long.

[0083] The small florets from the main or secondary stems that have been cut off are then placed in containers, bags, etc., as appropriate, and processed into a product, which is then refrigerated or frozen if necessary. In the method according to the present invention, since small florets with the length of the stem are obtained by cutting off the small florets from the main or secondary stem, the number of processing steps can be reduced and the working time can be shortened, which is an advantage. Furthermore, the cauliflower floret processed product obtained by the method according to the present invention has a diameter of 2.0 cm to 8.0 cm, can be eaten in one, two, or three bites, and has a stem with a better taste than conventional cauliflower floret stems, making it versatile in cooking. According to the method according to the present invention, it is possible to provide cauliflower products with such high commercial value. The small flower buds of the main or secondary stems that have been cut off can be further processed by heating, boiling, slicing, dyeing, and fermentation. In addition, a wide variety of processed products can be made by coloring, soaking in vinegar or oil, further breaking down slices into smaller pieces, mincing, drying, and powdering.

[0084] The genotype information of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention and its use are provided. Furthermore, as a result of the deposit of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention and the provision of specific strains of plants, the genetic information of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention becomes available. Based on this genetic information of the cauliflower plant according to the present invention, for example, a DNA marker can be obtained, and this can be used to determine whether the plant is a cauliflower plant according to the present invention.

[0085] One aspect of the genotype information of cauliflower plants according to the present invention involves comparing the cauliflower plants according to the present invention with publicly available reference genomic DNA sequences to identify and utilize sequences characteristic of the cauliflower plants according to the present invention. Examples of characteristic sequence mutations in cauliflower plants according to the present invention include single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), deletions and insertions (InDel), and simple repetitive sequences (SSRs). Examples of DNA markers for detecting these mutations include SCAR markers, CAPS markers, KASP® markers, and TaqMan® markers. Furthermore, as reference genomic DNA information, the HDEM reference genome published at "National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Genome assembled Brassica_oleracea_HDEM (https: / / www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov / datasets / genome / GCA_900416815.2 / )" can be cited.

[0086] As a specific example of a DNA marker, 92 DNA markers with sequences shown in Table 5 below are provided. The reference genome used here is the base sequence of the HDEM reference genome described above, and the base positions were determined by alignment to achieve the highest homology (sequence identity). In Table 5, the bases [N1 / N2] shown in parentheses represent SNPs, where N1 is a base present in the HDEM reference genome and N2 is a base not present in the HDEM reference genome. Sequences where N2 is a base not present in the HDEM reference genome are designated as Sequence IDs 1 to 92, and sequences where N1 is a base present in the HDEM reference genome are designated as Sequence IDs 93 to 184.

[0087] Similar to the DNA markers in Table 5 above, other DNA markers can be designed based on publicly available reference genome information and genotype information for each strain. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art who have read this specification that DNA markers can be similarly created and used for any other strain of cauliflower plant according to the present invention.

[0088] DNA markers can be detected by conventional methods. For example, DNA extracted from individual plant organisms can be used as a template, and a PCR amplification reaction can be performed using primers designed near specific SNPs, InDels, SSRs, or other mutant regions. The presence or absence of amplification products can then be confirmed using electrophoresis, or by detecting differences in the length of amplified fragments resulting from processing the amplification products with specific restriction enzymes. Another method involves designing primers or probes that can specifically hybridize to each allele of specific SNPs, InDels, SSRs, or other mutant regions, labeling them with different fluorescent dyes, and then detecting mutations by measuring the fluorescence intensity after the PCR reaction using a real-time PCR instrument or fluorescence detector. Yet another method involves using DNA microarrays to detect genotypes with multiple DNA markers simultaneously, or using next-generation sequencers (NGS) to detect multiple mutant sites as sequence information, such as the SeqSNP method or DArTag method. Furthermore, various DNA markers can be designed by referring to data published on NCBI (https: / / www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov / datasets / genome / ?taxon=3712), using commonly available primer design tools, and synthesizing them using methods well known in the relevant field. Thus, the DNA fragments according to this embodiment can include not only DNA isolated from plants but also artificially constructed DNA.

[0089] While the use of DNA markers as described above requires the extraction of DNA from the target plant material, this process is not limited to specific tissues or extraction methods. Any tissue from which DNA can be extracted is acceptable, including cauliflower seeds, leaves, stems, florets, and even processed products. Furthermore, the DNA extraction method is not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected from generally known methods.

[0090] As described above, by utilizing the genotype information of cauliflower plants according to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not a plant is a cauliflower plant according to the present invention. Specifically, it becomes possible to confirm the purity and identify the variety of cauliflower plants according to the present invention. More specifically, such purity testing and variety identification testing can be performed as testing of parent line seeds and F1 seeds during seed production, and testing of produced fruits and vegetables and processed products during the distribution process. This makes it possible to stably supply farmers with high-purity seeds suitable for fruit and vegetable production, and to supply consumers with products they can purchase with confidence by confirming that the fruits and vegetables and processed products are varieties according to the present invention. A more detailed explanation is as follows.

[0091] (a) Testing during seed production In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, cauliflower plants may be produced by artificial manual pollination, or seeds may be produced by insect pollination using honeybees or the like, which allows for large-scale production. However, the purity of the produced seeds may decrease due to errors during cross-pollination or unforeseen accidents during logistics. In the case of cauliflower, it can take from just under two months to about four months from planting to harvesting the produce, so it is desirable to supply seeds with as much purity as possible (100%). To achieve this, it is desirable to conduct accurate and rapid purity testing and variety identification testing during seed production.

[0092] Specifically, the tests are performed on the parent line seeds used in the production of F1 seeds, and on the seeds of the F1 varieties produced from them. Here, considering that the purpose of purity testing and variety identification testing for parent lines differs from that of purity testing and variety identification testing for F1 varieties, it is preferable to select markers that match the purpose.

[0093] In one embodiment, the parent line variety identification test is performed by comparing it with the genotype of SNPs that have been previously identified in the target line. The more SNPs that are checked, the smaller the probability of accidental agreement in the analysis results, enabling highly accurate variety identification. When using multiple SNPs, it is preferable to use SNPs with low correlation between genotypes of different lines, and it is also preferable to use SNPs that are located on different chromosomes. For example, as shown in the results of Test 6 described below, in the variety identification test of cauliflower line A, it can be distinguished from other lines by confirming that SNP005 in Table 6 is A and SNP012 is B. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art who have read this specification that the number and types of SNPs used can be selected for a purposeful purpose.

[0094] Furthermore, in the purity testing of parent lines, SNPs that exhibit a genotype specific to the target parent line are used to detect hybridization with other lines or contamination from other lines. Here again, the more SNPs that are checked, the more accurate the purity testing becomes, and when multiple SNPs are used, it is preferable to use SNPs located on different chromosomes. For example, as one example, based on the results of Test 6 described later, the purity of cauliflower line A can be tested by confirming that SNP005 in Table 6 is A. However, since cauliflower lines B, C and CMS C, F, H also show SNP005 as A, other SNPs that can distinguish them from these lines are also used to test for hybridization or contamination with these lines. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art who have read this specification that the number and types of SNPs used can be selected purposefully to test for hybridization or contamination with other lines.

[0095] The variety identification test of F1 varieties is also performed in the same manner as the parent lines described above. That is, for highly accurate variety identification, it is preferable to use multiple SNPs, SNPs with low correlation between genotypes of different lines, and SNPs located on different chromosomes. For example, as shown in the results of Test 6 described later, in the variety identification test of cauliflower line F, it can be distinguished from other lines by confirming that SNP004 and SNP012 in Table 6 are both H. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art who have read this specification that the number and types of SNPs used can be selected for a purposeful purpose.

[0096] Furthermore, in purity testing of F1 varieties, in order to confirm that the cross between the target parent lines has been carried out accurately, the target F1 line is heterozygous and uses SNPs specific to the target F1 line. Here again, the more SNPs that are checked, the more accurate the purity test becomes, and when using multiple SNPs, it is preferable to use SNPs located on different chromosomes. For example, as one example, based on the results of Test 6 described later, SNPs 001, 003, 004, 006, etc. from Table 6 can be used in purity testing of cauliflower line F. In addition, in order to test for contamination of lines that show the same genotype as cauliflower line F, it is preferable to use different SNPs that can distinguish these lines, that is, to use SNPs that show different polymorphisms in the parent lines. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art who have read this specification that the number and types of SNPs to be used can be selected for a purposeful purpose.

[0097] (b) Testing of fresh produce and processed products The purity testing and variety identification testing for cauliflower plants according to the present invention can be used for quality control in all situations, such as for harvested fresh produce and processed products that are distributed. Poor quality of fresh produce due to a decrease in purity directly leads to significant disadvantages for consumers, and in the case of a brand business, poor quality of fresh produce can develop into a problem that damages the brand itself. In a brand business, it is preferable to establish a system that can be used to confirm that the cauliflower plant is according to the present invention using the DNA marker or a similar marker according to this disclosure. For example, after confirming that the plant or product is of high purity using the DNA marker according to the present invention, it can be packaged in packaging materials such as containers, bags, or trays and sold. Also, for example, it is possible to know whether cauliflower products, including processed products, on the market are cauliflower according to the present invention.

[0098] When conducting inspections of fresh produce and processed products, the products in question are often F1 varieties, in which case the markers can be selected using the same approach as described in (a) above regarding inspections during seed production. In this way, by using the DNA markers described above to determine whether or not a product is cauliflower according to the present invention, it is possible to supply consumers with genuine products, in addition to considering the variety and brand.

[0099] The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0100] Example 1: Creation of Cauliflower Line A Sakata Seed Corporation selected and cultivated a Brassica line (line NR) from the crossbreeding progeny of the following lines owned by Sakata Seed Corporation: a broccoli line with many lateral branches, an anthocyanin-free single-head type broccoli line, a downy mildew-resistant broccoli line, a kailan line, and a Romanesco type cauliflower line. This line had elongated flower stalks and relatively uniform, firm florets. This was further crossed with a 65-day type loose cauliflower line (line T-1) owned by Sakata Seed Corporation. From the resulting F1 generation, selection was made using cauliflower-like flower stalks, long flower stalks, small florets, and uniform floret size as indicators, and self-pollination was repeated to create cauliflower line A, which has the trait of uniform floret formation.

[0101] F1 varieties were developed by crossing Brassica line NR as the seed parent and cauliflower line T-1 as the pollen parent, and then evaluated. After confirming that the phenotype was cauliflower-like inflorescence, with long flower stalks and small, uniformly sized florets, self-pollination was performed.

[0102] In the second year, 40 F2 generation plants were planted in the field. Among the plants with broccoli-like flower heads and those with unevenly sized florets, two plants with cauliflower-like flower heads, long flower stalks, and small, uniformly sized florets were selected and self-propagated.

[0103] In the third year, 32 F3 generation plants were planted in the field. Four plants were selected that had cauliflower-like flower heads, long flower stalks, and small, uniformly sized florets, and these were self-propagated.

[0104] In the fourth year, the 22 F4 generation plants obtained were spread in the field, and, as in the previous year, four plants were selected that had cauliflower-like flower heads, long flower stalks, and small, uniformly sized florets, and these were self-propagated.

[0105] In the fifth year, 32 F5 individuals from each of the four individuals selected the previous year were planted in the field. From one of these groups, two individuals possessing the traits of cauliflower-like flower heads, long flower stalks, and small, uniformly sized florets were selected and self-pollinated, as in the previous two years. From the remaining 126 individuals from the other three groups, no individuals satisfying the target traits could be obtained.

[0106] Subsequently, sowing, selection as described above, and self-pollination were continued, and in the tenth year, seeds collected from individuals with good seed productivity were sown. The resulting plants were found to have cauliflower-like flower heads, long flower stalks, and small, uniformly sized florets.

[0107] The seeds of this strain A are deposited with the aforementioned depositary institution under accession number FERM BP-22498 (identification mark: SSC-CFL-24-001).

[0108] Example 2: Production of Cauliflower Line B During the development of cauliflower line A, the F3 generation was crossed with Sakata Seed Corporation's extra-early maturing Single Head type purple cauliflower line P-1, and evaluation was conducted. After confirming that the phenotype was cauliflower-like inflorescence, with a long flower stalk, small and uniformly sized florets, and purple inflorescence, self-pollination was performed.

[0109] In the second year, 40 F2 generation plants were planted in the field. Among the plants with white cauliflower-like flower heads and those with insufficient stem growth, three plants were selected that had cauliflower-like flower heads, long flower stalks, small and uniformly sized florets, and promoted anthocyanin expression in the florets. These plants were then self-propagated.

[0110] In the third year, 40 F3 generation individuals were planted in the field. Three individuals were selected that had cauliflower-like flower heads, long flower stalks, small and uniformly sized florets, and promoted anthocyanin expression in the florets, and these were self-propagated.

[0111] In the fourth year, the 32 F4 generation individuals obtained were spread in the field, and, as in the previous year, one individual was selected that had cauliflower-like flower heads, long flower stalks, small and uniformly sized florets, and promoted anthocyanin expression in the florets, and this individual was self-propagated.

[0112] Subsequently, sowing, selection as described above, and self-pollination were repeated, and in the ninth year, seeds collected from individuals with good seed productivity were sown. The resulting plants were found to have cauliflower-like flower heads, long flower stalks, small and uniformly sized florets, and a purple coloration (purple) trait with well-proportioned anthocyanin expression in the florets.

[0113] The breeding history and materials used for lines A and B are clearly different from those used for Examples 3 and 4, which will be described later. However, the evaluation results, which will be described later, show that cauliflower plants that produce high-yielding small flower heads with long stems can be cultivated even under different genetic backgrounds than those of lines 3 and 4. Based on their breeding history, the aforementioned traits possessed by lines A and B are thought to be mainly derived from the Brassica line (line NR) used as material.

[0114] Example 3: Creation of Cauliflower Line C Sakata Seed Corporation created cauliflower line C, characterized by small florets and remarkably elongated flower stalks, from the offspring of a cross of a loose cauliflower line believed to originate from Taiwan, using self-pollination and anther culture techniques. Furthermore, using the backcross method, they created CMS C, a cytoplasmically male-sterile line.

[0115] Sakata Seed Corporation conducted a cross evaluation of an F1 hybrid variety (80-day type loose cauliflower variety) resulting from a single-head type cauliflower strain owned by Sakata Seed Corporation and a cauliflower strain presumed to be of Taiwanese origin. The evaluation confirmed that the variety exhibited loose cauliflower quality while being free from physiological disorders such as fuzzy or lysey characteristics, and possessed superior floret quality. After selection, the variety was self-propagated.

[0116] In the second year, 64 F2 generation plants were planted in the field. In December, when harvest time arrived, physiological disorders such as ripiness were observed in some plants. One plant with few physiological disorders and good growth was identified and selected. After transplanting to pots, this single plant was self-propagated.

[0117] In the third year, 32 F3 generation individuals of the line selected the previous year were spread in the field. Three individuals were identified and selected that possessed a very loose bud trait, small individual bud size, and remarkably elongated stems. These were then self-pollinated. The remaining 29 individuals did not exhibit a satisfactory phenotype for the target trait.

[0118] In the fourth year, 32 F4 generation plants were planted in the field from each of the three individuals selected the previous year. Promising individuals with small florets, elongated stems, and very few physiological disorders were identified, and three were selected for self-pollination. The remaining 93 individuals did not meet the selection criteria and were discarded. At the same time, anther culture was performed on the most promising individual to achieve early genotype fixation.

[0119] In the fifth year, one strain that responded to anther culture was acclimatized and grown, then self-pollinated to increase seed production.

[0120] In the sixth year, during the summer crop; in the seventh year, during the summer crop; and in the eighth year, during the spring crop, we continuously conducted trial evaluations of this anther culture reaction progeny line. We confirmed that this line exhibited very few physiological disorders, had smaller florets compared to conventional loose cauliflower varieties, and that the floret stems grew under all external environmental conditions.

[0121] Sakata Seed Corporation created a cytoplasmic male-sterile line, CMS C, by backcrossing a fully developed cauliflower line C four times with a cytoplasmic male-sterile line owned by Sakata Seed Corporation, and then performing Maker-Assisted Back Crossing to expedite development. This resulted in the creation of a cytoplasmic male-sterile line CMS C, which possesses the same nuclear genes as line C.

[0122] The seeds of this strain C are deposited with the aforementioned depositary institution under accession number FERM BP-22499 (identification mark: SSC-CFL-24-002).

[0123] Example 4: Creation of cauliflower lineage D. Up to the fourth year, the cultivation process was carried out in the same manner as the creation of cauliflower lineage C in Example 3, and three individuals selected in the F4 generation were self-pollinated.

[0124] In the fifth year, three individuals selected in the previous generation were transplanted to the field, with 32 individuals from each line being used for selection. From a different line than those used for anther culture, one individual with small florets and excellent flower stalk elongation was selected and self-propagated. Seed propagation was carried out simultaneously. The remaining 95 individuals planted in the field did not meet the intended selection criteria and were discarded.

[0125] In the sixth year, 30 plants were planted in the field from the seeds of the single plant selected the previous year and investigated. Several individuals were observed with small florets, excellent stem elongation, and very few physiological disorders, confirming that the selected line was promising. Two of the most promising individuals were selected from among them and self-pollinated.

[0126] Subsequently, sowing, selection as described above, and self-pollination were repeated, and the phenotype was fixed in the ninth year. Compared with cauliflower line C, the developed line D was earlier in maturity than line C, and exhibited characteristics such as smaller, more divided florets and longer flower stalks.

[0127] The breeding history and materials of lines C, CMS C, and D are clearly different from those of Examples 1, 2, and Example 5 described later. However, as shown in the evaluation results described later, this is an example of how cauliflower plants that produce high-yielding small florets with long stems can be cultivated even with a different genetic background than the lines of Examples 1, 2, and Example 5 described later. The aforementioned traits of lines C, CMS C, and D are thought to have originated from a combination of a Single Head type normal cauliflower line owned by Sakata Seed Corporation and a hybrid F1 variety (80-day type loose cauliflower variety) presumed to be of Taiwanese origin, and were subsequently fixed in the progeny through appropriate selection.

[0128] Example 5: Cauliflower line E was created by crossing the F1 generation of cauliflower lines SD-1 and SD-2, both owned by Sakata Seed Corporation, with cauliflower line P-2, a Single Head type owned by Sakata Seed Corporation that has the characteristic of flower heads that do not easily turn yellow. The line was then cultivated through repeated selection and self-pollination, using the following indicators: relatively strong resistance to black rot, slightly loose flower heads, pale cream-colored flower heads, and elongated flower stalks.

[0129] Strain SD-1 exhibits relatively high resistance to black rot, large size, soft flower buds, and a pale cream color. Strain SD-2 exhibits relatively high resistance to black rot, soft flower buds, a spreading growth habit with exposed heads, and a slightly darker cream color. The cultivated loose cauliflower strain E exhibited loosely packed flower buds, excellent growth potential, and slightly elongated flower stalks. Furthermore, strain E was considered to be a cauliflower strain derived from clearly different genetic resources than strain C.

[0130] Sakata Seed Corporation backcrossed its cytoplasmic male-sterile line with the completed cauliflower line E seven times to create CMS E, a cytoplasmic male-sterile line with the same nuclear genes as line E.

[0131] Example 6: Creation of cauliflower lines F and G. Cauliflower line CMS C was crossed with line A as the seed parent to produce line F, which is the F1 generation. At the same time, cauliflower line C was crossed with line A as the pollen parent to produce line G.

[0132] After seed collection, lines F and G were sown and their characteristics were examined. Both lines were found to have cauliflower-like flower heads, long stems, and uniformly sized, small flower heads. Trial cultivation of lines F and G was continued the following year, and it was confirmed that they expressed the same characteristics as the previous year.

[0133] The seeds of this strain G are deposited with the aforementioned depositary institution under accession number FERM BP-22500 (identification mark: SSC-CFL-24-003).

[0134] Example 7: Creation of cauliflower lines H and I. Cauliflower line CMS C was crossed with the seed parent and line B as the pollen parent to produce line H, which is the F1 generation. At the same time, cauliflower line C was crossed with the pollen parent and line B as the pollen parent to produce line I.

[0135] After seed collection, we sowed lines H and I and examined their characteristics. Both lines had cauliflower-like flower heads, long stems, and uniformly small florets. They also exhibited consistently high anthocyanin expression, resulting in purple coloration in the florets. We continued cultivating lines H and I the following year and confirmed that they expressed the same characteristics as the previous year.

[0136] The seeds of this strain I are deposited with the aforementioned depositary institution under accession number FERM BP-22501 (identification mark: SSC-CFL-24-004).

[0137] Example 8: Creation of cauliflower lineage J. Cauliflower lineage CMS E was crossed with the seed parent and lineage C of the same lineage as the pollen parent to create lineage J, which is the F1 generation.

[0138] After seed collection, we sowed lineage J and confirmed its characteristics. It was found to have cauliflower-like flower heads, relatively long stems, and small, uniformly sized flower heads that were somewhat loose. We continued to cultivate lineage J in subsequent years and confirmed that it expressed the same characteristics as the previous year.

[0139] Example 9: Creation of cauliflower lineage K. Cauliflower lineage D was used as the seed parent and lineage A as the pollen parent in a cross, and lineage K, the F1 generation, was created.

[0140] After seed collection, we sowed line K and confirmed its characteristics. We found that it produced cauliflower-like flower heads with long stems and more consistently produced uniform, small-sized flower heads. We continued to cultivate line K in subsequent years and confirmed that it expressed the same characteristics as the previous year.

[0141] After sowing the cauliflower seeds, seedlings were grown in cell trays until they were ready for transplanting. They were then transplanted to the field, where conventional cultivation methods were followed. When the flower heads reached their optimal harvest stage, the heads were harvested and the harvested produce was measured. Average values ​​were used for both the head diameter and the number of individual florets. All measured florets were from the main stem or secondary stems.

[0142] Investigation of florets in experimental cultivation The floret ratio was calculated and compared for eight cauliflower lines (line A, line B, line C, line CMS C, line F, line H, line J, and line K) produced in Examples 1 to 9 above, three commercially available loose cauliflower lines, one stem broccoli line, and two single-head type cauliflower lines (line L and Ornament White) owned by Sakata Seed Corporation.

[0143] The following varieties were selected as control varieties: "Califlore 60," "Califlore 70," and "Califlore 80" are F1 varieties sold by Tokita Seed Co., Ltd., and are representative varieties that produce loose cauliflower-type flower heads with loosely packed buds. Line J is a trial cross variety owned by Sakata Seed Corporation that produces loose cauliflower-type flower heads.

[0144] Similarly, Cauliflower line L, which was evaluated at the same time, is a representative line owned by Sakata Seed Corporation that produces standard cauliflower florets and is a mid-early maturing variety. Ornament White is a representative F1 variety sold by Sakata Seed Corporation that produces standard cauliflower florets and is classified as a mid-early maturing variety. In addition, Stick Senor is a globally popular stem broccoli F1 variety sold by Sakata Seed Corporation and is classified as an early maturing variety.

[0145] [Experiment 1] Measurement of small florets in autumn cultivation The cultivation site was Sakata Seed Corporation's Kakegawa Research Center, and the cultivation period was sown on August 10th and transplanted on September 14th, which was a typical autumn cultivation where the formation of the florets coincided with the period of falling temperatures. The small florets were measured at the optimal harvest time for the florets. The florets were harvested in the field and measured directly using an electronic scale and measuring tape. Furthermore, the small florets were separated and measured similarly directly using an electronic scale and measuring tape or calipers. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0146]

[0147] As is clear from the results in Table 1, lines A, B, CMS C, H, F, and the stem broccoli variety Stick Senor, produced in Examples 1 to 7, all had a floret ratio exceeding 40%. Commercially available loose cauliflower varieties, Califlore 60, Califlore 70, and Califlore 80, had a floret ratio of 15.2% or less. Line J had a ratio of 4.2%, and although one parent used line A according to the present invention, the other parent used line CMS E, which was selected from a hybrid line of genetically different loose cauliflower genetic resources. This shows that even if a line possesses the floret trait of loose cauliflower, it is not always possible to cultivate a line with a large floret ratio. Furthermore, line L, a normal type of cauliflower, had a floret ratio of 0%. From the above, it has been shown that the proportion of florets in the cauliflower plants according to the present invention is clearly larger than that of conventionally known cauliflower plants.

[0148] [Test 2] Measurement of florets in early autumn harvest trial cultivation under high temperature stress. This test investigated whether the cauliflower plant according to the present invention similarly expresses the trait of producing high-yielding florets with a long stem, even at a different cultivation period than Test 1. Generally, early-maturing varieties are used in early autumn harvest cultivation, so Califlore 60, the most early-maturing variety among commercially available loose cauliflower varieties, was used as a control variety.

[0149] The cultivation site was Sakata Seed Corporation's Kakegawa Research Center. The cultivation period was from July 25th to August 28th, with seedling cultivation and the post-transplant growth period coinciding with the hottest part of summer, thus creating a summer crop under high-temperature stress conditions. Similar to Experiment 1, measurements were taken of the small florets at the optimal harvest time for the flower head bulbs. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0150]

[0151] As is clear from the results in Table 2, lines A, B, C, F, and H all had a floret ratio of 35.2% or more. On the other hand, the commercially available loose cauliflower variety, Califlore 60, had a floret ratio of 20.3%. This indicates that the cauliflower plant according to the present invention is capable of producing high-yielding florets with long stems, even in early autumn harvest trials where it is subjected to higher temperature stress in addition to autumn cropping. In conclusion, it has been reconfirmed that the proportion of florets in the cauliflower plant according to the present invention is significantly larger than that of conventionally known cauliflower plants.

[0152] [Test 3] Measurement of florets in test cultivation in California, USA Furthermore, we tested whether the cauliflower plant according to the present invention similarly expresses the high-yielding floret-producing trait with a long stem at different times and locations than in Tests 1 and 2. The test crosses were F1 varieties lines F and K, and as control varieties, we used line J, a loose cauliflower variety owned by Sakata Seed Corporation, and two conventional cauliflower varieties (line L and Ornament White).

[0153] The cultivation site was Sakata Seed America Inc.'s Salinas Research Farm in California, USA. Sowing took place on July 21st, and transplanting on August 31st. The Salinas Valley, where the Salinas Research Farm is located, is one of the world's leading broccoli-producing regions. Its climate is generally considered warm and cool, which is very beneficial for cauliflower and makes it a suitable cultivation area. Experiment 3 involved cultivation in California, where the temperature drop is more gradual than in Japan, despite being an autumn crop. Similar to Experiments 1 and 2, measurements were taken of the florets at the optimal harvest time for the heads. The results are shown in Table 3.

[0154]

[0155] As is clear from the results in Table 3, both F1 lines F and K developed according to the present invention had a floret ratio of 78.3% or more. On the other hand, the loose cauliflower line J owned by Sakata Seed Corporation, the conventional cauliflower line L, and the F1 variety Ornament White, which were tested as target varieties, had a floret ratio of 0%. This further confirms that, even under warm and cool environmental conditions, the cauliflower plants according to the present invention are capable of producing high-yielding florets with long stems, similar to the test results in autumn cultivation in Japan and summer cultivation under more high-temperature stress conditions.

[0156] From the characteristic investigations of each breeding line during the breeding process of Examples 1 to 9, and the results of cultivation tests 1, 2, and 3, it was estimated that the trait for producing high-yielding small flower buds with a long stem according to the present invention is expressed recessively.

[0157] [Test 4] Manufacturing of cauliflower products different from conventional products. Among the cauliflower plants according to the present invention, lines F and H, along with the stem broccoli F1 variety Stick Senor sold by Sakata Seed Corporation, and the purple stem broccoli line V were cultivated by conventional methods, and the florets were cut off from the main stem or secondary stems. These were packaged individually or mixed as spares in plastic bags or food trays and plastic packaging materials. Some of the cauliflower products are shown in Figure 4.

[0158] These findings suggest the potential for new produce products that emphasize unique shapes and appearances as product features. Furthermore, the present invention demonstrates that it is possible to propose produce products that include branding, and to pursue unprecedented industrial applications of produce, such as chilled / frozen products, processed products, or food products.

[0159] [Test 5] Measurement of hardness of floret stalk As one of the verification tests to determine whether the cauliflower plant according to the present invention has the same marketability as existing stem broccoli products, a penetration hardness test was conducted on the floret stalk. The test lines were F1 varieties lines F and J, and the stem broccoli F1 variety Stick Senor sold by Sakata Seed Corporation was used as the control variety.

[0160] The cultivation site was Sakata Seed Corporation's Kakegawa Research Center. The cultivation period was from January 26th to March 21st, and it was a spring crop cultivation that coincided with the period of rising temperatures when the flower heads formed. At the optimal time for harvesting the flower heads, measurements were taken of the small flower head portion. As with other experiments, the flower heads were harvested in the field and measured directly using an electronic scale and measuring tape or calipers. Furthermore, the small flower head portions were separated and measured directly using an electronic scale and measuring tape or calipers. In addition, penetration hardness was measured manually using a 2 mm diameter cylindrical probe with a hardness tester FGP-5 sold by Nidec-Shimpo Corporation, set on Nidec-Shimpo's manual simple stand FGS-50H.

[0161] For the penetration hardness measurements, we were able to harvest a sufficient number of florets with a stem length of 7.0 cm or more for varieties F and Stick Senor. However, for variety J, which is a loose cauliflower variety owned by Sakata Seed Corporation, we were not guaranteed to be able to harvest florets with a stem length of 7.0 cm or more. Therefore, for all tested varieties, we focused on florets with a stem length of 4.0 cm or more.

[0162] Penetration hardness was measured by taking a view of the flower bud from above. Starting from one point on the innermost side of the flower bud (closest to the center) and one point 180 degrees opposite (outside) of the cross-section between the cluster of small flower buds and the stem, the initial measurement was taken at two points (one on the inside and one on the outside) 1 cm from the center of the stem towards the base of the stem, and subsequent measurements were taken in the same manner at 1 cm intervals. The penetration hardness of the lineage was calculated by using the values ​​from three points each at 1 cm, 2 cm, and 3 cm (inside and outside) from the measurements, and calculating the hardness of each small flower bud stem and the average hardness for the lineage. The results are shown in Table 4.

[0163]

[0164] As is clear from the results in Table 4, the penetration hardness value of line F produced by the present invention was significantly lower than that of line J, a test hybrid variety of loose cauliflower, while being almost equivalent to that of Stick Senor, the F1 variety of stem broccoli that is mainstream worldwide.

[0165] Therefore, it has been confirmed that the cauliflower variety according to the present invention can be used without causing complaints or dissatisfaction due to its toughness, even when manufactured using the same concept as Stick Senor, a stem broccoli variety well-known for its taste, or when mixed and processed into products in the same packaging.

[0166] [Test 6] The SNPs listed in Table 5 above were analyzed for lines A, B, CMS C, F, H, J, and the commercially available cauliflower varieties listed below, as well as genetic resources owned by Sakata Seed Corporation, which were created using purity testing and variety identification DNA marker examples 1 to 8. The results are shown in Table 6 above. In the table, A indicates a homozygous form of SNP A, H indicates a heterozygous form of SNP A and SNP B, B indicates a homozygous form of SNP B, and chr indicates the chromosome number.

[0167] The following varieties, commercially available from Sakata Seed Corporation, were used in the trials: Virgin Road is a tropical variety with excellent flower bud color and shape. Baroque is an early-maturing variety with excellent early maturity and bulb growth ability. Merton is a mid-early-maturing variety with strong growth and heat tolerance. Ornament White is a mid-early-maturing variety with excellent leaf bracts and heat tolerance. Bisei is an early-maturing variety with excellent heat tolerance. Ornament Purple is an early-maturing variety with purple flower buds. White Marble is a tropical variety with good bulb growth ability.

[0168] Furthermore, the following commercially available varieties were tested: Dhaval (East West), a tropical variety with heat tolerance; Yukimatsuri (Musashino Seedling Garden), a tropical variety with vigorous growth; Setsugetsu (Nozaki Seedling), a mid-to-late maturing variety with cold tolerance; and Casper (Rijk), an early-to-mid-maturing variety with excellent flower bud color. Zwaan, a mid-to-late maturing variety with cold tolerance, Naruto (Clause), an early maturing variety with excellent heat tolerance, Fortaleza (Seminis), a tropical variety with excellent heat tolerance, CFL-1522 (Syngenta), a mid-to-early maturing variety with excellent bud color, Symphony (Syngenta), an early maturing variety that is suitable for periods of rising temperatures, Lucky (Syngenta), an early maturing variety with excellent heat tolerance, Flamenco (Bejo), an early maturing variety with excellent bud shape, Zaragozza (Bejo), an early maturing variety with resistance to root-knot disease, and the loose cauliflower varieties Califlore 60 and Califlore 70 (Tokita Seed Co.).

[0169] The following genetic resources owned by Sakata Seed Corporation were used for testing: Inbred-01 is a tropical variety with excellent flower bud color. Inbred-02 is an early-maturing variety with excellent bulb enlargement ability. Inbred-03 is a mid-early-maturing variety with strong plant vigor. Inbred-04 is a mid-early-maturing variety with very strong bract formation. Inbred-05 is an early-maturing variety with heat tolerance. Inbred-06 is an early-maturing variety with excellent shape. Inbred-07 is a tropical variety with excellent bulb enlargement ability. Inbred-08 is a tropical variety with excellent shape. Inbred-09 is an early-maturing variety with excellent flower bud tightness. Inbred-10 is a mid-early-maturing variety with excellent heat tolerance. Inbred-11 and Inbred-12 are early-maturing varieties with excellent heat tolerance. Inbred-13 is an early-maturing variety with purple flower buds. Inbred-14 is a tropical variety with excellent flower bud shape.

[0170] In Table 6, for example, the genotype of line F, which is the F1 generation of cauliflower line CMS C and line A, shows the same genotype for SNPs with the same genotype between the parent lines, and shows H for SNPs with different genotypes between the parent lines. From this, it can be seen that some or all of the SNPs with different genotypes between the parent lines can be used for purity testing of line F.

[0171] Furthermore, Table 6 shows that, for example, only strain A exists where SNP005 is A and SNP012 is B. Similarly, only strain F exists where, for example, SNP002 is A and SNP034 is H. From this, it can be seen that some or all of these SNPs can be used for variety identification of strains A and F.

[0172]

[0173]

[0174] All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference as part of the disclosure herein.

Claims

1. A cauliflower plant, or its progeny, that possesses genes in its nuclear genome that are involved in floret formation, enabling the production of high-yielding florets with long stems.

2. The cauliflower plant or its offspring according to claim 1, wherein the gene involved in the formation of the florets can express a genetic trait such that, when the diameter of the floret bulb is 15.0 cm or more and 24.0 cm or less, the ratio (%) of the number of florets that are 2.0 cm or more in diameter and 8.0 cm or less, have a floret stalk length of at least 7.0 cm or more, and weigh at least 10 g or more, to the total number of florets weighing 10 g or more (floret portion ratio) is at least 35.2%.

3. The cauliflower plant or its offspring according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the expression of anthocyanins is promoted.

4. A cauliflower plant according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gene is derived from broccoli, Chinese broccoli, or cauliflower, or its progeny.

5. The cauliflower plant or its offspring according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the gene involved in the formation of the florets can express a genetic trait such that the ratio of florets is 35% or more, 40% or more, 45% or more, or 50% or more.

6. The cauliflower plant or its offspring according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the gene involved in the formation of the florets can express a genetic trait such that the floret portion ratio is 55% or more, 60% or more, 65% or more, 70% or more, 75% or more, 80% or more, 85% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, or 100%.

7. A cauliflower plant according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a genetic trait for producing high-yielding florets with a long stalk, derived from a plant identified or represented by accession number FERM BP-22498, accession number FERM BP-22499, accession number FERM BP-22500, or accession number FERM BP-22501, or a genetic trait for producing high-yielding florets with a long stalk, which may be found in the deposit.

8. A cauliflower plant or its offspring according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, when the diameter of the flower bud is 15.0 cm or more and 24.0 cm or less, the diameter of the flower buds is 2.0 cm or more and 8.0 cm or less, the length of the flower bud stalk is at least 7.0 cm, and the ratio (%) of the number of flower buds weighing at least 10 g or more (flower bud ratio) to the total number of flower buds weighing at least 10 g or more is at least 35.2%.

9. The cauliflower plant or its offspring according to claim 8, wherein the ratio of the small florets is 35% or more, 40% or more, 45% or more, or 50% or more.

10. The cauliflower plant or its offspring according to claim 8, wherein the ratio of the small florets is 55% or more, 60% or more, 65% or more, 70% or more, 75% or more, 80% or more, 85% or more, 90% or more, 95% or more, or 100% or less.

11. A cauliflower plant according to any one of claims 8 to 10, having accession number FERM BP-22498, accession number FERM BP-22499, accession number FERM BP-22500, or accession number FERM BP-22501, or its progeny.

12. A cauliflower plant or its offspring according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein when the diameter of the flower bud is 15.0 cm or more and 24.0 cm or less, the diameter of the small flower buds is 2.0 cm or more and 8.0 cm or less, the length of the stalk portion of the small flower buds is at least 7.0 cm, and the average number of total small flower buds weighing at least 10 g or more is 3.9 or more.

13. A hybrid plant or its offspring obtained using a cauliflower plant as described in any one of claims 1 to 12 as a parent line.

14. A cauliflower plant or a part of its progeny according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A part of a cauliflower plant according to claim 14, which is a flower bud or floret.

16. The cauliflower plant or its progeny seeds according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

17. A method for producing a cauliflower plant or its offspring according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein selection or propagation is carried out using as a selection indicator a genetic trait that produces high-yielding florets with a long stalk, derived from a plant specified or represented by accession number FERM BP-22498, accession number FERM BP-22499, accession number FERM BP-22500, or accession number FERM BP-22501, or a genetic trait that produces high-yielding florets with a long stalk, which can be found in the deposited material.

18. A method for producing F1 seeds of a cauliflower plant according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising the steps of: crossing a cauliflower plant according to any one of claims 1 to 12 with a cauliflower plant according to any one of claims 1 to 12 or another plant capable of crossbreeding with a cauliflower plant according to any one of claims 1 to 12; and collecting F1 seeds from the individual obtained by the crossbreed.

19. A method for producing a processed cauliflower floret product, comprising the steps of: preparing a cauliflower plant as described in any one of claims 1 to 12; cutting off the florets of the main stem or secondary stem from the cauliflower plant's floret bulb; and optionally packaging the cut florets of the main stem or secondary stem.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the cauliflower plant is the cauliflower plant described in claim 8.

21. A method for producing a processed cauliflower floret product, comprising: a step of preparing an existing processed broccoli or cauliflower plant; a step of preparing a cauliflower plant according to any one of claims 1 to 12; a step of cutting the florets of the main stem or secondary stem from the cauliflower plant's floret bulb; a step of optionally further cutting the cut florets of the main stem or secondary stem; and a step of optionally packaging the cauliflower product of the cut main stem or secondary stem together with a processed broccoli plant.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the cauliflower plant is the cauliflower plant described in claim 8.

23. A method for confirming or identifying whether a cauliflower plant is as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, using at least one single nucleotide polymorphism defined as the difference between the sequences of sequence numbers 1 to 92 and the corresponding sequences of sequence numbers 93 to 184.

24. The method according to claim 23, which is a method for testing the purity or variety identification of cauliflower plants according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

25. The cauliflower plant according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which is not obtained solely by essentially biological methods.

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