Calendula Kercaldiva Breeding for Continuous Flowering and Mildew Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Calendula cultivars lack a uniform, continuously flowering variety with good container and landscape performance, and they often experience fading of ray florets and susceptibility to Powdery Mildew.

Innovation Solution

A new Calendula cultivar 'Kercaldiva' is developed through controlled breeding, characterized by a compact, freely branching habit, long flowering period, large double and semi-double inflorescences with bright orange ray florets that resist fading, and improved tolerance to Powdery Mildew, achieved through vegetative tip cutting propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If existing Calendula cultivars are used, then they have simple inflorescence forms, but they lack continuous flowering and exhibit fading ray florets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflowering periodVSAvoidray floret color stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and breeding plants with specific genetic parameters that result in double and semi-double inflorescences with prolonged flowering duration and non-fading ray florets. The cultivar 'Kercaldiva' exhibits these improved parameters through controlled breeding programs that modified the inflorescence structure and pigment stability characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If existing Calendula cultivars are used, then they have simple inflorescence forms, but they are susceptible to Powdery Mildew

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease toleranceVSAvoidinflorescence form

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by breeding for altered plant architecture parameters and disease resistance parameters. The cultivar 'Kercaldiva' demonstrates improved disease tolerance and complex inflorescence forms through selection for specific genetic traits that modify both structural and physiological characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing Calendula cultivars are used, then they have variable growth habits, but they lack uniform container and landscape performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer and landscape performanceVSAvoidgrowth habit uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting for consistent growth habit parameters and adaptability parameters. The cultivar 'Kercaldiva' exhibits uniform growth habits and improved container and landscape performance through breeding programs that stabilized key morphological and physiological parameters across different environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUSPP30517P3<i>Calendula </i>plant named ‘Kercaldiva’

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 KERLEY TIMOTHY EDWARD

AI summary

A new and distinct cultivar of Calendula plant named ‘Kercaldiva’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely and continuously flowering habit; long flowering period; large double and semi-double type inflorescences with bright orange-colored ray florets; and good container and landscape performance.