Brunnera Macrophylla Cultivar Mr. Morse Silver Mottled Leaves White Flowers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Brunnera macrophylla cultivars either lack unique foliage characteristics or exhibit light blue flowers, failing to combine silver mottled leaves with white flowers, which are desirable traits in horticultural varieties.
Innovation Solution
The development of the 'Mr. Morse' cultivar, characterized by silver mottled leaves with a green and white coloration on the upper surface and white flowers, achieved through in vitro propagation, combining distinct foliage and flowering traits not found in existing cultivars like 'Betty Bowring' and 'Inspector Morse'.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If existing Brunnera cultivars with silver mottled leaves are used (e.g., 'Inspector Morse'), then unique foliage characteristics are achieved, but the flowers are light blue instead of white
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a mutant plant that exhibits a specific genetic variation resulting in white flowers combined with silver mottled leaves. This changes the floral color parameter from the typical light blue to white, while preserving the desired foliage characteristics through in vitro propagation that maintains the unique phenotypic parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses in vitro propagation to create exact copies of the mutant plant 'Mr. Morse' that simultaneously exhibits both silver mottled leaves and white flowers. This copying process ensures that the unique combination of traits is reproduced true to type, preserving both the foliage pattern and the novel flower color in successive generations.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing Brunnera cultivars with white flowers are used (e.g., 'Betty Bowring'), then white flowers are achieved, but the leaves are green and non-mottled
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the foliage parameter by selecting a mutant plant that exhibits silver mottled leaves in combination with white flowers. This represents a deviation from the typical green non-mottled leaves of white-flowered cultivars, achieving a novel phenotypic combination through natural mutation and subsequent in vitro propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges two previously separate trait combinations into one unified cultivar: the white flowers typically associated with green non-mottled leaves, and the silver mottled leaves typically associated with light blue flowers. The result is 'Mr. Morse' which combines white flowers with silver mottled leaves, merging desirable traits from different cultivar types.
3Adaptability or versatility
If natural mutation is relied upon for trait combination, then unique foliage and flower traits may occur, but the traits may not be stable across generations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses in vitro propagation to create genetically identical copies of the mutant plant, ensuring that the unique combination of silver mottled leaves and white flowers is reproduced true to type. This cloning process guarantees trait stability across generations by eliminating genetic variation that would occur with sexual reproduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs tissue culture techniques that allow for rapid multiplication of the mutant plant. This method enables the production of numerous stable copies from a single mutant source, ensuring genetic uniformity and trait stability while efficiently propagating the unique phenotypic combination.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The 'Mr. Morse' cultivar offers a unique combination of silver mottled leaves and white flowers, providing a visually distinct and stable horticultural option that reproduces true to type, enhancing aesthetic appeal and diversity in Brunnera macrophylla varieties.
Implementation Method 1
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished under direction of the inventor by in vitro propagation in Rijswijk, The Netherlands in fall of 2006
Data Source
AI summary
A new cultivar of Brunnera macrophylla, ‘Mr. Morse’, characterized by its deep green foliage that heavily mottled with silver with its contrasting green margins and veins combined with panicles of white flowers that are present in mid to late spring.