Hydrangea macrophylla BC9.2 Cultivar with Compact Growth and Distinctive Sepal Pigmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a new cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla that combines desirable characteristics such as large inflorescences, distinctive pigmentation, and compact growth habit, which are not adequately met by existing varieties like 'Sabrina' and 'White Robe', and maintains stability across generations.

Innovation Solution

The development of the Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar 'BC9.2', resulting from a controlled cross between 'Sabrina' and the patented variety 'Glory', which exhibits improved compactness, attractive inflorescences, and stable desirable traits through asexual reproduction, ensuring consistent characteristics across successive generations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If a controlled cross between 'Sabrina' and 'Glory' is performed to create new cultivar, then large inflorescences and distinctive pigmentation are achieved, but growth compactness and stability across generations must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinflorescence sizeVSAvoidgrowth habit stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs systematic asexual reproduction through vegetative cuttings to propagate the new cultivar 'BC9.2' and examines successive generations to ensure that the combination of characteristics (compact growth habit, large inflorescences, distinctive pigmentation) remains firmly fixed. This feedback mechanism verifies trait stability across generations while maintaining the improved inflorescence size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent describes a new cultivar with specific parameter combinations: compact growth habit, large inflorescences (16 cm diameter), and distinctive pigmentation (R.H.S. 155C white with R.H.S. 63A red-purple edges). These parameter changes differentiate the new cultivar from parent varieties while maintaining stability through asexual reproduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If existing varieties like 'Sabrina' are used, then ease of commercial growing is achieved, but inflorescence size and pigmentation distinctiveness are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommercial growing easeVSAvoidinflorescence size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges desirable characteristics from two parent varieties: 'Sabrina' (seed parent) which provides ease of commercial growing and compactness, and 'Glory' (pollen parent) which contributes large inflorescences and distinctive pigmentation. The resulting cultivar 'BC9.2' combines these traits, achieving both commercial viability and superior floral characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If existing varieties like 'White Robe' are used, then commercial viability is achieved, but growth compactness and inflorescence characteristics are not optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommercial viabilityVSAvoidgrowth habit

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves local quality optimization by creating a cultivar with specific regional characteristics: compact overall growth habit (17 inches high, 20 inches diameter) combined with large inflorescences (16 cm diameter). This local differentiation in growth architecture enhances both commercial viability and aesthetic value while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Shape

If a new cultivar is developed through controlled cross, then distinctive pigmentation pattern is achieved, but stability across successive generations must be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepigmentation patternVSAvoidtrait stability across generations

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically examines asexually reproduced successive generations grown in Half Moon Bay, Calif. to verify that the distinctive pigmentation pattern (R.H.S. 155C white with R.H.S. 63A red-purple edges on sepal edges) and other characteristics remain firmly fixed. This feedback verification ensures trait stability across three generations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs asexual reproduction through vegetative cuttings to create identical copies of the selected plant, ensuring that the distinctive pigmentation pattern and other desirable traits are precisely replicated across successive generations without genetic variation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUSPP23758P3Hydrangea plant named `BC9.2`

Publication Date: 2013.07.23 BAY CITY FLOWER

AI summary

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) named ‘BC9.2’ originated as a controlled cross between the unpatented variety ‘Sabrina’ (the seed parent) and the patented variety ‘Glory’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,705). The cultivar ‘BC9.2’ has predominately white sepals (R.H.S. 155 C (white group) with edges of R.H.S. 63 A (red-purple group). The variety ‘BC9.2’ has large attractive inflorescences, distinct sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics.