Cornus VERPAALEN3 Cultivar Seasonal Foliage Color Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a new Cornus cultivar that exhibits distinct foliage color changes throughout the seasons, specifically medium green with darker green margins in spring, dark green in summer, and dark purple in autumn, which is not adequately addressed by existing cultivars like 'Miracle' and commercial varieties such as 'Elegantissima' and 'Cream Cracker'.

Innovation Solution

The cultivar 'VERPAALEN3' is developed through asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings, inheriting stable unique features such as medium green leaves with darker green margins in spring, dark green in summer, and dark purple in autumn, differing from its parent and commercial counterparts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If existing Cornus cultivars like 'Miracle' are used, then they provide green and white foliage with pink borders, but they fail to provide the desired distinct seasonal color changes from medium green to dark purple

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoliage color stabilityVSAvoidornamental value

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a mutant plant with altered foliar pigmentation parameters. The new cultivar exhibits changing anthocyanin and chlorophyll levels throughout the seasons, transforming from medium green with darker green margins in spring to dark purple in autumn, thereby achieving distinct seasonal color variations that differ from the parent cultivar's static green and white appearance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If asexual reproduction by vegetative cuttings is used, then the unique features are stable and reproduced true to type, but the process requires multiple successive generations to verify stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrait stabilityVSAvoidverification time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by conducting multiple successive generations of asexual reproduction through vegetative cuttings before commercial release. This preliminary verification process ensures that the unique foliar coloration traits are stable and will be reliably reproduced in future plantings, giving customers confidence in the cultivar's consistent performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the new cultivar is compared to commercial varieties like 'Elegantissima' and 'Cream Cracker', then it shows similar growth habits, but it differs in foliage coloration patterns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrowth habit compatibilityVSAvoidfoliage color distinction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by focusing on the specific foliar characteristics of the new cultivar while maintaining general growth habit compatibility with commercial varieties. The distinctive feature is the localized coloration pattern on the leaves - medium green with darker green margins transitioning to dark purple - which differentiates it from the green with white margins pattern of commercial varieties like 'Elegantissima' and 'Cream Cracker'

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUSPP36136P2<i>Cornus </i>plant named ‘VERPAALEN3’

Publication Date: 2024.09.24 VERPAALEN HENRICUS CORNELIS E M

AI summary

A new and distinct cultivar of Cornus plant named ‘VERPAALEN3’ is disclosed, characterized by medium green leaves with darker green margins in spring, and dark purple in autumn. Plants are upright and broad. The new cultivar is a Cornus, normally used for outdoor ornamental purposes.