Coreopsis Radioactive Cultivar Red-Orange Inflorescence
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a new cultivar of Coreopsis that exhibits unique inflorescence coloration, vigorous growth habit, and resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot, while being reliably perennial in U.S.D.A. Zone 5, as existing cultivars like 'Mercury Rising' and 'Redshift' lack distinct red-orange inflorescence color and 'Center Stage' has different ray floret characteristics.
Innovation Solution
The new cultivar 'Radioactive' is a naturally occurring branch mutation of Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising' with large inflorescences featuring gold and scarlet red coloration, a low-growing, spreading habit, and high resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot, achieved through asexual propagation by stem cuttings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If existing Coreopsis cultivars like 'Mercury Rising' and 'Redshift' are used, then they have established growth habits and disease resistance, but they lack distinct red-orange inflorescence coloration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a natural mutation that exhibits altered pigment composition and color expression. The mutant plant was identified with unique red-orange coloration resulting from changes in floral pigment parameters, and this new color phenotype was fixed through asexual propagation to ensure consistency.
2Quantity of substance
If Coreopsis 'Mercury Rising' is used, then it has white ray florets with burgundy red effect, but it lacks the desired gold base color with scarlet red suffusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by distinguishing and emphasizing specific color zones within the ray florets. The gold base color at the floret base, scarlet red suffusion in the middle, and golden tips at the apex create distinct local color characteristics that differentiate this cultivar from parent and other cultivars.
3Reliability
If Coreopsis cultivars are selected for disease resistance, then they show improved powdery mildew and leaf spot resistance, but they may lack vigorous growth habit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining multiple desirable traits into a single cultivar: the mutant plant was selected not only for its unique red-orange coloration but also for exhibiting both vigorous growth habit and good resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot, thereby unifying color uniqueness, growth vigor, and disease resistance in one variety.
Data Source
AI summary
A new cultivar of hybrid Coreopsis named ‘Radioactive’ that is characterized by its large inflorescences with ray florets having an upper surface with a base color that is gold and heavily suffused with scarlet red with an overall effect of red-orange with golden tips appearing when plants are grown under hot temperatures and having a lower surface that has red centers and gold margins, its vigorous growth habit with healthy foliage, its low growing plant habit, spreading outward from above ground stems that are well branched without the need for pinching, its very good resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot, and its reliably perennial habit in U.S.D.A. Zone 5.