Abutilon NUABRED Compact Habit and Extended Flowering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Abutilon cultivars lack compact forms with improved flowering characteristics, particularly a long flowering period and a wide range of flower colors, and are often sterile, making them less desirable for horticultural applications.
Innovation Solution
The development of the Abutilon × hybrida cultivar 'NUABRED' through controlled cross-pollination, resulting in a compact, floriferous plant with scarlet red bell-shaped blooms and cream-green calyces, exhibiting a long flowering season from spring through fall, and showing stability in asexual propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If existing Abutilon cultivars are used, then they have larger leaves and less compact habit, but they lack compact forms with improved flowering characteristics and long flowering period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selectively breeding plants with specific genetic traits that modify growth parameters (internode length, branching frequency) and flowering parameters (bloom duration, flower set). This resulted in 'NUABRED' having compact habit with short internodes and frequent branching, while achieving an extended flowering period from spring through fall.
2Reliability
If existing Abutilon cultivars are used, then they may have flower color variety, but they are often sterile and lack longevity of flowering period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sterile, single-season blooming characteristics where each flower completes its function and is replaced by new blooms throughout the season. The plant is bred to be sterile (no seed production) but maintains continuous flower production from spring through fall, effectively using each flower as a temporary, disposable reproductive structure that maximizes visual display without genetic continuation.
3Volume of moving object
If compact forms are developed, then plant size is reduced for container suitability, but flowering characteristics and color presentation must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating flowering activity at the terminal ends of compact branches, where flowers are positioned to receive maximum sunlight exposure. The compact habit concentrates foliage and flowers in a smaller volume, while the bell-shaped flowers with scarlet red petals and cream-green calyces are specifically oriented and colored to maintain visual impact despite reduced plant size.
Data Source
AI summary
A new cultivar of Abutilon named ‘NUABRED’ that is characterized by a compact habit, medium green leaves, scarlet red flowers with prominent cream-green calyces, and a long blooming season. In combination these traits set ‘NUABRED’ apart from all other existing varieties of Abutilon known to the inventor.