Hydrangea Shugert Cultivar Breeding for Early Reflowering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Hydrangea cultivars lack desirable traits such as attractive foliage, robust growth, early flowering, and adaptability to varying environmental conditions, particularly in terms of temperature and light intensity, and have limitations in flower development on new growth and reflowering.

Innovation Solution

The development of the new Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar 'Shugert' through planned breeding, which exhibits upright and mounded growth, strong roots and stems, dark green leaves, early flowering, large lacecap-type inflorescences with light purple flowers, and the ability to reflower without cold treatment, distinguishing it from its parent cultivars 'Bailmer' and 'Fasan' in terms of flower size and hardiness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional Hydrangea cultivars are used, then basic growth is maintained, but attractive foliage and flower coloration are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoliage attractivenessVSAvoidenvironmental adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program modified genetic parameters to achieve dark green foliage color and light purple flower coloration while maintaining adaptability to varying environmental conditions including temperature and light intensity variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional Hydrangea cultivars are used, then flowering occurs, but early flowering and reflowering capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflowering timeVSAvoidreflowering consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivar was bred to accumulate flowering competence earlier in the growth cycle, enabling early flowering without requiring cold treatment, and to maintain the physiological capacity for repeated flowering cycles throughout the growing season

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional Hydrangea cultivars are used, then flower development occurs, but development on new growth is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflower development flexibilityVSAvoidflower quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivar was bred to dynamically adjust flowering capacity based on available energy reserves, allowing simultaneous or sequential flowering on both old and new wood, with the ability to initiate flower buds on current season's growth without compromising existing flower production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If conventional Hydrangea cultivars are used, then basic hardiness is maintained, but enhanced hardiness and robust growth are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehardinessVSAvoidstem and root strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivar combines multiple genetic traits including deep root system architecture, reinforced stem structural integrity, and enhanced cold tolerance mechanisms to achieve superior overall hardiness and robust growth compared to parent cultivars

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUSPP21591P2Hydrangea plant named `Shugert`

Publication Date: 2010.12.28 SPRING MEADOW NURSERY INC

AI summary

A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘Shugert’, characterized by its upright and mounded plant habit; strong roots and stems; strong and dark green-colored leaves; early flowering habit; large lacecap-type inflorescences with light purple-colored flowers; and ability to reflower and to develop flowers on new growth without a cold treatment.