Howell TC11 Apple Tree Red Flesh Flavor
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an apple tree variety that combines attractive, red-fleshed, later-maturing fruit characteristics not found in existing varieties like 'Honeycrisp' and 'Arlie Red Flesh', with distinct features such as fruit size, shape, flesh color, flavor, and flower color, while also differing from other red-fleshed varieties like 'Howell TC2' and 'Pink Pearl'.
Innovation Solution
The development of the apple tree variety 'Howell TC11', resulting from a controlled cross between 'Honeycrisp' and 'Arlie Red Flesh', which exhibits unique characteristics including medium to large fruit size, globose-conic shape, red-purple and yellow-white flesh color, sweet-tart flavor with berry notes, and specific flower and tree features, and has been asexually propagated to remain true to type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a controlled cross between 'Honeycrisp' and 'Arlie Red Flesh' is performed to create new variety, then unique fruit characteristics (red flesh, berry flavor notes, globose-conic shape) are achieved, but the breeding process requires multiple generations of observation and asexual propagation to ensure stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary controlled crossing between selected parent varieties ('Honeycrisp' and 'Arlie Red Flesh') to pre-establish the desired genetic combination for red flesh, berry flavor notes, and globose-conic shape before mass propagation. This preliminary action allows the breeder to select and stabilize the desired traits in advance, reducing the time required for subsequent propagation and commercial production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses asexual propagation methods (bud grafting, tissue culture) to create exact genetic copies of the selected 'Howell TC11' variety. This copying process ensures that all trees produce identical fruit with the desired characteristics, eliminating the need for repeated breeding cycles and ensuring trait stability across generations.
2Volume of moving object
If the fruit size is increased to medium-large (70-90 mm), then market appeal and yield are improved, but the fruit shape becomes more complex (globose-conic) requiring precise breeding control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves the globose-conic shape by controlling local growth characteristics of the fruit - the body remains globose (spherical) while the distal end develops a conic (tapered) shape. This local differentiation of form is achieved through specific genetic control in the breeding program, allowing the fruit to exhibit different geometric characteristics in different regions, thereby achieving both large size and distinctive shape.
3Shape
If the flesh color is made red-purple and yellow-white (bicolor), then aesthetic appeal and market differentiation are improved, but the color uniformity becomes more difficult to maintain across trees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a bicolor flesh pattern where red-purple and yellow-white colors are distributed in specific regions of the fruit flesh. This local color differentiation is genetically controlled to ensure consistent patterning across all fruits of the variety, with each tree producing fruit with the same characteristic bicolor distribution, thereby achieving both aesthetic appeal and compositional stability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the flavor profile is developed to include berry flavor notes with sweet-tart balance, then eating quality is improved, but the flavor complexity requires precise genetic inheritance from parent varieties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary controlled crossing between parent varieties with complementary flavor traits - 'Honeycrisp' contributing sweet-tart balance and 'Arlie Red Flesh' contributing berry flavor notes. This preliminary genetic combination is established before propagation, ensuring reliable inheritance of the complex flavor profile across all subsequent generations through asexual propagation.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct apple tree named ‘Howell TC11’ characterized by its fruit, which has an attractive red overcolor and distinctive red, red-purple and yellow-white flesh.