Cool Beans Crape Myrtle Compact Habit Disease Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cultivars of Lagerstroemia plants lack distinct characteristics such as compact growth habit, resistance to diseases like Cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew, and specific flower colors, which are desirable for ornamental landscaping and potted plant markets.
Innovation Solution
The development of the 'Cool Beans' cultivar, characterized by a dense, compact growth habit, semi-glossy olive green foliage with rosy red edges, heavily-branched rosy reddish stems, pinkish flowers, and resistance to Cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew, achieved through asexual propagation and breeding program using proprietary hybrid H10-11-02 as the seed and male parent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current Lagerstroemia cultivars are used, then they have basic ornamental value, but they lack compact growth habit and disease resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and breeding plants with specific genetic parameters that result in both compact growth habit and disease resistance. The cultivar 'Cool Beans' exhibits a compact, rounded growth habit with dense branching patterns, while simultaneously demonstrating resistance to Cercospora leaf spot and powdery mildew diseases. This resolves the contradiction by changing the genetic parameters of the plant to achieve both desired traits together.
2Adaptability or versatility
If current Lagerstroemia cultivars are used, then they have basic flower color, but they lack distinct and desirable flower colors for ornamental markets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by developing a cultivar with distinctive pinkish-mauve flower coloration that differs from traditional Lagerstroemia varieties. The flowers of 'Cool Beans' exhibit a unique pinkish-mauve hue with a lighter center, providing enhanced aesthetic appeal for ornamental landscaping and potted plant markets. This resolves the contradiction by introducing novel color variations that increase both aesthetic appeal and market versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If current Lagerstroemia cultivars are used, then they have standard foliage, but they lack distinctive foliage characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes to the foliage by developing a cultivar with distinctive olive-green leaves that provide year-round visual interest. The foliage of 'Cool Beans' exhibits a unique olive-green coloration that maintains its aesthetic appeal throughout the growing season, enhancing the overall ornamental value of the plant. This resolves the contradiction by introducing distinctive foliage color characteristics that increase ornamental versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
The new and distinct crape myrtle plant named Lagerstroemia ‘Cool Beans’ has a dense, short, compact, broadly rounded habit, is ground hardy to at least USDA zone 6, has deep green foliage edged in rosy red. The flowers arise from shiny, rosy-red buds, are lightly fragrant, large, cover the shrub with their pinkish color. The new plant resists leaf spot and powdery mildew and is useful in the landscape as a specimen, en masse, or as a container plant.