Hybrid Tomato with Pepper-Like Lobed Shape and Hardy Skin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tomato varieties lack a hybrid with a unique shape, hardy skin, and the ability to remain on the vine after ripening, which are desirable traits for a paste-type tomato.
Innovation Solution
A new hybrid tomato, named Tulip Tomato, is developed through accidental cross-breeding between Amish tomato and Big Bertha Pepper, selected for its shape and hardy skin, exhibiting indeterminate growth habit, firm flesh, and resistance to fusarium wilt and verticillum, with characteristics retained through asexual reproduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If traditional tomato varieties are used, then the fruit is easy to pick and store, but the fruit lacks a unique shape and hardy skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the unique lobed shape characteristic of pepper-family plants with tomato fruit development, creating a hybrid that combines the structural uniqueness of pepper-like forms with tomato physiology. The fruit integrates both lobed geometry and tomato seed cavity structures, achieving a form that is neither conventional tomato nor conventional pepper.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid tomato combines diverse genetic materials from tomato and pepper families, creating a composite organism with integrated characteristics. The fruit structure combines tomato's fleshy interior with pepper-like lobed exterior, and the plant combines tomato's indeterminate growth with pepper's retention qualities.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the tomato fruit is made to remain on the vine after ripening, then the shelf life is extended, but the fruit may be more difficult to harvest at optimal time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic retention where the fruit transitions from a state that can be easily harvested to one that remains on the vine. The indeterminate growth habit allows the plant to continue producing and retaining fruit, enabling harvesters to pick fruit at optimal times from among many retained fruits rather than dealing with a single batch.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous indeterminate growth allows the plant to continuously produce and retain ripe fruit on the vine, providing an ongoing supply rather than a single harvest event. This continuity enables extended storage while maintaining fruit quality through prolonged on-vine maturity.
3Reliability
If the tomato plant is made resistant to diseases like fusarium wilt and verticillum, then the reliability is improved, but the plant may have reduced growth rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the genetic parameters of the plant by introducing disease-resistance genes from pepper-family plants into the tomato genome. These genetic parameter changes confer resistance to fusarium wilt and verticillum while maintaining acceptable growth rates through the indeterminate growth habit that allows continuous production.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct variety of paste-type hybrid tomato plant is described that is derived in part from an Amish tomato, and in part from a Big Bertha Pepper. This hybrid tomato has 2-4 lobes similar to a pepper, a hardy skin, and remains on the vine when ripe until frost. When picked ripe, this tomato lasts longer without rotting than normal tomatoes. Some of these tomatoes have been eaten after 3 months from picking. The fruit usually shrinks inside itself after some time from picking.