Corn Salad Fruit Size Uniformity via Embryo Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Corn salad seeds exhibit high variation in size within fractions, leading to irregular and slow germination, as the size of the seeds, particularly the embryo, plays a more significant role in germination uniformity and speed rather than the size of the fruits as a whole, resulting in lower-than-expected germination energy.
Innovation Solution
Developing a new type of corn salad fruit with a significantly smaller fruit width and a higher length/width ratio, achieved through genetic modification, which enhances germination uniformity and speed by introducing traits from Valerianella carinata into Valerianella locusta, resulting in a more uniform embryo size and improved germination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional corn salad fruits are used for sowing, then the fruit size varies within fractions, but the germination uniformity and speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fertile locule containing the seed from the sterile air chambers of the traditional corn salad fruit. This separation removes the variable-sized air chambers that cause fruit size variation, isolating the actual seed (embryo) which is the critical factor for germination. By sowing only the fertile locules, the invention achieves both fruit size uniformity and improved germination uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the corn salad fruit into distinct components: sterile air chambers and the fertile locule containing the seed. This segmentation allows selective use of only the fertile portion for sowing, eliminating the variability introduced by the air chambers while preserving the essential germination-capable embryo.
2Ease of operation
If traditional corn salad fruits with air chambers are used, then the fruits float and are easy to disperse, but the germination speed and energy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the sterile air chambers from the fruit structure, extracting only the fertile locule with the embryo for sowing. This elimination of non-essential air chambers concentrates the germination-capable material, thereby increasing germination energy and speed while maintaining dispersal effectiveness through the streamlined seed structure.
3Productivity
If mechanical sowing is used with traditional fruit sizes, then sowing efficiency is maintained, but seeds too large or too small for the machine calibre are rejected
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting and sowing only the fertile locules without the variable-sized air chambers, the invention produces a more uniform seed size that fits within a fixed machine calibre range. This eliminates the need to reject seeds that are too large or too small, reducing substance loss while maintaining mechanical sowing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the critical size parameter from the overall fruit dimension (including variable air chambers) to the fertile locule dimension (containing the embryo). This parameter change results in a more consistent size distribution that accommodates mechanical sowing requirements, reducing rejection losses.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a corn salad fruit of the species Valerianella locusta, characterized by a fruit width which is smaller than 1.7 mm and/or a length/width ratio of the fruits which is higher than 1.2, and which fruit width and/or length/width ratio are/is determined by a genetic determinant which is as found in, or is obtainable from, fruits of which a representative sample was deposited under accession number NCIMB 42007, or is equivalent to the said genetic determinant in NCIMB 42007.