Hot Rod Switchgrass Early Season Red Foliage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switchgrass cultivars with red foliage typically develop this color later in the season, lacking the early season ornamental value and distinct growth characteristics of 'Hot Rod', which exhibits a blue-green basal color and erect leaves with red foliage in late spring/early summer.
Innovation Solution
The 'Hot Rod' cultivar of Panicum virgatum, characterized by its upright growth habit, blue-green basal color, and early development of red foliage, is propagated through division and demonstrates tolerance to various soils and temperatures, differing from other cultivars in its timing and intensity of color development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If existing switchgrass cultivars with red foliage are used, then red foliage color is achieved, but the color develops later in the season reducing early season ornamental value
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a mutant plant with altered phenological parameters - specifically, the timing of foliage color development. The 'Hot Rod' cultivar exhibits red foliage color development in late spring/early summer, whereas other cultivars develop red color later in the season. This parameter change in color development timing directly resolves the contradiction by providing early season ornamental value while maintaining the desired red foliage color.
2Stability of the object's composition
If switchgrass cultivars with later season red foliage are used, then color stability is maintained, but growth habit and color timing differ from the desired upright habit with early color development
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by identifying and propagating a plant with specific localized characteristics - upright growth habit combined with early season red foliage color development. The 'Hot Rod' cultivar exhibits these distinct local qualities (erect leaves, early red color) while maintaining the overall stability of switchgrass species characteristics. This allows the cultivar to possess unique adaptive traits without compromising the stability of the base plant composition.
3Reliability
If propagation by division is used, then asexual propagation stability is achieved, but the plant must be divided from established growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the desired upright growth habit and early red color development characteristics in the parent plant before propagation. The mutant plant is first selected and allowed to establish its characteristic growth pattern and color timing, then propagated by division to ensure the offspring inherit these pre-established traits. This preliminary establishment of desired characteristics ensures propagation reliability while the plants are already optimized for early season performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct, vigorous cultivar of Panicum virgatum named ‘Hot Rod’ characterized by an upright growth habit and the development of red purple color in late spring early summer. The early development of color adds early season value as an ornamental.