Blackred VII Plum Tree Breeding for Firm Fruit and Sweet Flavor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a plum tree variety that offers improved fruit quality, specifically firmer texture and sweeter flavor, while maintaining compatibility with existing rootstocks and pollination requirements, and being suitable for commercial orchards with varying climatic conditions.
Innovation Solution
The development of the 'Blackred VII' plum tree variety, which is a medium to large-sized, vigorous, and productive tree that requires cross-pollination, produces oblate fruit with a black skin and red flesh, and is characterized by its firm texture and sweet flavor, utilizing the 'Nemaguard' rootstock for compatibility and true-to-type reproduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the plum tree variety is bred to produce firmer fruit texture and sweeter flavor, then the fruit quality is improved, but the breeding time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting extensive hybridization experiments and selecting parent plants with desirable traits before the actual breeding process. The inventors pre-selected '19P442' as seed parent and identified suitable pollen parents based on desired characteristics (firm texture, sweet flavor, late ripening), thereby reducing the time required for random breeding trials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying genetic parameters through controlled hybridization between specific parent varieties. The cross between '19P442' and selected pollen parents introduced genetic variations that resulted in the desired fruit parameters (firmness, sweetness, ripening time), achieving improved fruit quality through deliberate genetic parameter adjustment.
2Manufacturing precision
If the plum tree variety is bred to ripen later (30 days later than parent), then the fruit quality and sweetness are improved, but the growing season is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selectively breeding for altered ripening time as a genetic parameter. The 'Blackred VII' variety inherits a genetic trait that delays ripening by approximately 30 days compared to the parent '19P442'. This extended maturation period allows the fruit to accumulate more sugars and develop superior sweetness and flavor, directly linking the temporal parameter change to quality improvement.
3Manufacturing precision
If the plum tree variety is made self-unfruitful requiring cross pollination, then the fruit quality is improved, but the pollination management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing bee hives as mediators in the pollination process. Since the variety is self-unfruitful, natural bee activity is harnessed to transfer pollen between different plum varieties. The bees serve as intermediary agents that facilitate cross-pollination, reducing the need for manual pollination management while ensuring fruit set and maintaining genetic diversity.
4Quantity of substance
If the plum tree variety produces medium to large fruit, then the marketability is improved, but the tree productivity per unit area may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the balance between fruit size and tree productivity through selective breeding. The 'Blackred VII' variety produces medium to large fruit (improving individual fruit marketability) while maintaining adequate tree vigor and productivity through its vigorous growth habit and regular bearing pattern. This represents an optimized parameter combination that satisfies both market demand for larger fruit and commercial requirements for sufficient yield per unit area.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plum tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium to large size, vigorous, hardy, and very productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from another plum or interspecific tree that blooms during the mid to late season, such as ‘Plumsweet V’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,369). The present variety's moderate amount of blossoms and strong pollen production entices strong bee activity to facilitate pollination. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during the first week of August, with first picking on Aug. 1, 2018. The fruit is medium is size, very oblate in shape, black in skin color, clingstone in type, mostly red in flesh color, firm in texture, juicy, and very good in flavor.