Geranium Thunder Cloud Breeding for Dark Purple Foliage

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for new Geranium cultivars with darker foliage color, as existing cultivars do not offer the desired intensity and unique flower color combinations.

Innovation Solution

The development of the Geranium traversii×sessiliflorum cultivar 'Thunder Cloud' through controlled breeding, combining the purple foliage of Geranium traversii 'Nigra' with the green-bronze foliage of Geranium sessiliflorum, resulting in white flowers with pink venation and dark purple, smaller foliage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing Geranium cultivars are used, then they are commercially available and easy to obtain, but they do not provide the desired darker foliage color intensity and unique flower color combinations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoliage color intensityVSAvoidavailability of cultivars

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and breeding plants with specific foliage color parameters (darker purple hues) and flower color parameters (white with pink venation) to create a new cultivar that meets the desired color intensity and combination requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines characteristics from two different parent species (Geranium traversii and Geranium sessiliflorum) to create a hybrid cultivar that exhibits composite traits including dark purple foliage and white flowers with pink venation, achieving the desired color intensity and uniqueness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If the foliage color is made darker through breeding, then the foliage color intensity is improved, but the foliage size becomes smaller

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoliage color intensityVSAvoidfoliage size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program intentionally changed the foliage color parameter to achieve darker purple hues, accepting the correlated change in foliage size as part of the selection process for the new cultivar's distinctive characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a new cultivar is developed through controlled breeding, then unique flower color combinations and darker foliage are achieved, but the breeding program requires significant time and resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunique flower color combinationsVSAvoidbreeding program duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by conducting controlled open-pollination breeding programs that systematically track and select for desired traits across multiple generations, with the goal of developing the new cultivar 'Thunder Cloud' with unique flower color combinations and darker foliage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The breeding program uses feedback mechanisms by evaluating progeny plants against specific selection criteria (foliage color intensity, flower color combinations) and selectively propagating only those individuals that meet the desired standards, ensuring the development of a stable, true-to-type cultivar

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUSPP19388P2Geranium hybrid plant named 'Thunder Cloud'

Publication Date: 2008.10.28 BURTON STEPHEN

AI summary

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Thunder Cloud’, characterized by its white-colored flowers having pink-colored venation, dark purple-colored foliage, and rosette growth habit.