Veronica Atomic Blue Compact Growth and Disease Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Veronica hybrida cultivars lack compact growth habit, large flower size, distinct flower color, and robust disease resistance, particularly in comparison to 'Darwin's Blue' and 'Atomic Lilac'.
Innovation Solution
The development of a new Veronica hybrida cultivar, 'Atomic Blue', characterized by dark violet-blue flowers, compact habit, healthy foliage, and enhanced mildew and rust resistance, achieved through asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If conventional Veronica hybrida cultivars are grown, then they achieve normal growth, but they lack compact habit and large flower size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a cultivar with specific genetic parameters that produce compact growth habit (reduced plant width and branch length) while simultaneously maintaining large flower size (increased corolla height and diameter). This is achieved through asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings that preserve these optimized parameters across generations.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional Veronica hybrida cultivars are grown, then they achieve normal foliage color, but they lack distinct flower color and darker foliage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by developing a cultivar with distinct dark violet-blue flower color (different from typical Veronica hues) and darker foliage color. This is achieved through selective breeding and asexual propagation that stabilizes these unique color characteristics, making them readily identifiable and commercially desirable.
3Reliability
If conventional Veronica hybrida cultivars are grown, then they achieve moderate disease resistance, but they lack robust mildew and rust resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the blessing in disguise principle by developing a cultivar that has been selected for strong resistance to mildew and rust diseases. Instead of these harmful factors causing problems, the breeding process has converted the challenge of disease resistance into a beneficial trait, where the plant naturally resists these pathogens through its genetic makeup, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
4Stability of the object's composition
If asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings is used, then the unique features are stable and reproduced true to type, but the propagation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing selective breeding and trait stabilization before mass propagation. The cultivar has been pre-selected and asexually reproduced since summer 2008 to establish stable, true-to-type characteristics. This preliminary stabilization ensures that subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings quickly produces uniform, reliable plants without requiring additional selection time.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named ‘Atomic Blue’, particularly distinguished by dark violet-blue colored flowers, compact habit, healthy foliage, and good mildew and rust resistance, is disclosed.