Bella Sweet Interspecific Tree Trait Combination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interspecific plum, apricot, and peach tree varieties lack a cultivar that combines desirable traits such as large size, vigorous growth, regular fruit production, excellent flavor, and attractive appearance, with specific maturity and skin color characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A new interspecific tree variety, 'Bella Sweet', is developed through a cross between Prunus salicina, Prunus armeniaca, and Prunus persica, exhibiting larger fruit size, darker red skin, and yellow flesh, with improved maturity and flavor, and is asexually reproduced using the 'Nemaguard' Rootstock for consistent propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing interspecific plum, apricot, and peach tree varieties are used, then fruit production is achieved, but the fruit lacks desirable combination of large size, vigorous growth, regular production, excellent flavor, and attractive appearance with specific maturity and skin color characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple desirable traits from different parent varieties into a single new variety 'Bella Sweet'. The cross between interspecific seedlings combines characteristics for large fruit size, vigorous growth, regular bearing, excellent flavor, and attractive red skin with specific maturity, achieving a unified combination of traits that individual parent varieties lack
Solution Approach 2:
The new variety exhibits parameter changes compared to parent varieties, including darker red skin color, approximately 32 days later maturity than seed parent, approximately 30 days later maturity than pollen parent, larger fruit size, and yellow flesh compared to red. These parameter changes create a distinct variety with improved and differentiated characteristics
2Stability of the object's composition
If asexual reproduction is used to propagate the variety, then consistent propagation is achieved, but time and resources are required for budding and establishment
Solution Approach 1:
The variety was selected in 2009 for additional asexual propagation and commercialization after exhibiting desirable characteristics. Budding to 'Nemaguard' Rootstock was performed to induce earlier fruit production for evaluation, establishing the propagation system before full commercial deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses 'Nemaguard' Rootstock as an intermediary for asexual reproduction. The budding process connects the scion (new variety) to the rootstock, providing consistent propagation while the rootstock system supports earlier fruit production and establishes a reliable propagation medium
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct variety of interspecific tree. The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features:1. Tree with vigorous, upright growth.2. Heavy and regular production of large size fruit.3. Fruit with attractive red skin color.4. Fruit with excellent flavor and eating quality.