Glenearly Cherry Tree Breeding for Earlier Maturity and Crack Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cherry tree varieties face challenges in early blooming, skin cracking susceptibility, and delayed maturity, which affect their suitability for long-distance shipping and commercial production.
Innovation Solution
The development of the 'Glenearly' cherry tree variety, which is a cross between 'Brooks' and 'Glenred' cherry trees, exhibits earlier blooming, darker fruit color, reduced skin cracking, and earlier maturity, making it more suitable for commercial cherry production and long-distance shipping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cherry trees bloom earlier to enable long-distance shipping, then shipping capability is improved, but susceptibility to skin cracking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selectively breeding cherry trees to modify the relationship between blooming time and skin cracking susceptibility. The 'Glenearly' variety achieves earlier blooming (parameter change in phenology) while simultaneously improving skin cracking resistance through genetic selection, thereby resolving the contradiction between shipping capability and fruit integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If cherry trees produce darker red fruit for market appeal, then commercial value is improved, but susceptibility to over-production increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by selecting for specific genetic traits that control both fruit color intensity and yield regulation. The 'Glenearly' variety exhibits darker red pigmentation (parameter change in color) combined with genetic characteristics that prevent over-production, allowing commercial value enhancement without the penalty of excessive yield that can lead to fruit quality degradation.
3Loss of time
If cherry trees are bred for earlier maturity to meet market demands, then market timing is improved, but fruit size may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes through selective breeding to decouple the relationship between maturity timing and fruit size. The 'Glenearly' variety achieves earlier maturity (parameter change in phenology) while maintaining adequate fruit size through genetic selection, thereby improving market timing without excessive size reduction that would compromise commercial viability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cherry tree, Prunus avium, and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium size, moderately vigorous, hardy, self unfruitful, productive and regular bearing tree. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in the early part of May, with first picking on May 7, 2012. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, sweet in flavor, somewhat oblate in shape, clingstone in type, firm in texture, dark red in flesh color, and very dark red in skin color.