Cornus Cultivar With Red-Bronze Foliage and Strong Trunk

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Cornus kousa cultivars lack distinct foliage coloration in fall, flower bract color, and trunk strength, making them less desirable for ornamental landscaping.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the 'Botfire' cultivar, which features red-bronze tinged foliage, dark pink to red flower bracts, and a sturdy trunk, achieved through asexual propagation by chip budding onto Cornus kousa rootstock.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional Cornus kousa cultivars are used, then they are easier to propagate and maintain, but they lack distinct foliage coloration in fall, flower bract color, and trunk strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveornamental valueVSAvoidpropagation compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the genetic parameters of Cornus kousa to achieve red-bronze fall foliage color, dark pink to red flower bracts, and a sturdy trunk. This is accomplished through selective breeding that modifies the physiological and morphological parameters of the plant, transforming it from the conventional green-foliaged variety to one with distinctive seasonal coloration and structural characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by developing specific traits in particular parts of the plant: red-bronze coloration in the foliage during fall, dark pink to red coloration in the flower bracts, and enhanced trunk strength. Each part of the plant is optimized for its specific ornamental function, creating a plant with differentiated local characteristics that enhance overall aesthetic value.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If chip budding propagation is used, then stable and distinctive characteristics are achieved, but propagation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacteristic stabilityVSAvoidpropagation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs chip budding, a form of vegetative propagation that creates genetic copies of the parent plant. This copying method ensures that the distinctive characteristics of 'Botfire' (red-bronze foliage, dark pink bracts, sturdy trunk) are exactly replicated in successive generations. The chip budding process involves taking a small section (chip) containing the bud from the parent plant and attaching it to rootstock, creating a genetic duplicate that maintains all ornamental traits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If conventional Cornus kousa are used, then they have standard growth characteristics, but they show susceptibility to dogwood anthracnose and powdery mildew

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease resistanceVSAvoidcultivation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the genetic parameters of Cornus kousa to achieve red-bronze fall foliage color, dark pink to red flower bracts, and a sturdy trunk. This is accomplished through selective breeding that modifies the physiological and morphological parameters of the plant, transforming it from the conventional green-foliaged variety to one with distinctive seasonal coloration and structural characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUSPP37241P2<i>Cornus </i>plant named ‘Botfire’

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 BOTANICO

AI summary

A new cultivar of Cornus plant named ‘Botfire’ that is characterized by its foliage that is tinged red to bronze with the color persistent throughout fall, its flowers with dark pink to red colored flower bracts, its sturdy trunk, and its viability after chip budding onto Cornus kousa rootstock.