Caladium Bombshell Cultivar Uniform Growth and Sun Tolerance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Caladium plant cultivars lack uniform plant habit, exceptional container and garden performance, and attractive foliage coloration, particularly in varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
The development of a new Caladium cultivar, 'Bombshell', resulting from a cross-pollination between proprietary selection WS-03-36 and 'Red Flash', exhibiting upright, uniform, and vigorous growth with dark red to greyed purple-colored venation and interveinal areas surrounded by dark green borders, tolerant to full sun conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional Caladium cultivars are used, then basic growth is achieved, but uniform plant habit and exceptional container performance are not attained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and breeding for specific morphological parameters including upright plant habit, intermediate to tall height, and uniform growth patterns. The breeding process optimized parameters such as leaf shape (ovate), venation color (dark red to greyed purple), and border color (dark green) to achieve consistent uniformity across plants while maintaining exceptional container and garden performance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If existing Caladium varieties are planted, then foliage is produced, but attractive and uniform foliage coloration is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct color zones within the foliage structure. The leaves exhibit dark red to greyed purple venation and interveinal areas surrounded by dark green borders, with the coloration distributed in specific patterns including spotted and marbled variations. This localized color differentiation provides attractive foliage while maintaining adaptability to varying environmental conditions through the stable expression of these color characteristics.
3Productivity
If standard Caladium breeding is performed, then new varieties are created, but stable asexual reproduction is not ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service through the natural tuberosus propagation mechanism of Caladium plants. The cultivar 'Bombshell' reproduces asexually through tubers that maintain genetic fidelity without requiring external intervention. The breeding program utilized this self-service propagation capability to ensure stable reproduction of the unique traits including upright habit, ovate leaves with dark red to greyed purple venation and dark green borders, while efficiently developing and disseminating the new cultivar.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct cultivar of Caladium plant named ‘Bombshell’, characterized by its upright plant habit; intermediate to tall plant size; uniform plant habit; vigorous and dense growth habit; fancy-type leaves with dark red to greyed purple-colored venation and interveinal areas surrounded with dark green-colored borders; and good landscape performance.