Crossandra Docroswat Cultivar Compact Habit and Flowering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Crossandra plant cultivars lack compact and freely-branching varieties with attractive flowers, and there is a need for new cultivars that exhibit stable and reproducible traits across different environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A new cultivar, 'Docroswat', was developed through planned breeding, combining the female parent Crossandra infundibuliformis 'Nile Queen' with an unknown male selection, resulting in a compact, freely-branching plant with reddish-orange flowers, glossy leaves, and good garden performance, achieved through asexual reproduction by terminal cuttings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If existing Crossandra cultivars are used, then the plant structure is available, but the plant habit is not compact and freely-branching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and breeding plants with specific phenotypic parameters (compactness, branching density, flower color) to create a new cultivar that differs from the parent in these measurable characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses asexual reproduction by terminal cuttings to create copies of the selected plant that faithfully reproduce the desired compact and freely-branching characteristics, ensuring stability of the new plant habit
2Adaptability or versatility
If environmental conditions vary, then plant phenotype may vary, but genotype remains stable
Solution Approach 1:
By using asexual reproduction through terminal cuttings, the patent creates genetic copies that maintain stable genotype and reliable phenotypic expression across different environmental conditions, while still allowing for normal phenotypic variation within acceptable ranges
3Reliability
If new cultivars are created through breeding, then desired traits are achieved, but breeding time and resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting the open-pollination breeding program in advance (September 2018) and then systematically selecting and propagating the desired trait in subsequent years, which allows for the establishment of stable cultivars through deliberate planning
Solution Approach 2:
Once the desired plant with stable traits is selected (July 2019), asexual reproduction by terminal cuttings creates rapid copies that reproduce the traits true to type, significantly reducing the time needed compared to sexual reproduction and multiple breeding generations
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct cultivar of Crossandra plant named ‘Docroswat’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy plant form; freely flowering habit; reddish orange-colored flowers; and good garden performance.