Lake Cherry Rootstock Dwarfing and Precocity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cherry tree rootstocks often result in larger tree sizes, delayed precocity, and reduced yields, making harvesting and cultivation less efficient and requiring the use of machinery for fruit collection.

Innovation Solution

The 'Lake' cherry tree variety, a species hybrid between Prunus avium and Prunus fruticosa, is developed for its dwarfing characteristics, improved virus tolerance, and increased precocity, allowing for smaller canopy size, earlier flowering and fruiting, and higher yields, facilitating easier harvesting and propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional cherry tree rootstocks are used, then tree size is larger, but harvesting becomes more difficult and requires machinery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharvesting easeVSAvoidtree height

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and breeding a rootstock variety ('Lake') that fundamentally alters the growth parameters of the cherry tree, specifically reducing tree height and canopy size to enable manual harvesting without machinery, while maintaining or improving other parameters like yield and precocity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If traditional cherry tree rootstocks are used, then tree size is larger, but cultivation efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecultivation efficiencyVSAvoidcanopy size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the key parameter of canopy size through the use of the 'Lake' rootstock, which produces dwarf trees with significantly reduced canopy area, thereby improving cultivation efficiency by reducing the space required for each tree while maintaining or enhancing productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If traditional cherry tree rootstocks are used, then precocity is delayed, but earlier flowering and fruiting are needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to first fruitingVSAvoidprecocity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by employing the 'Lake' rootstock which fundamentally alters the developmental timeline parameter, inducing precocity that results in flowering and fruiting beginning in the second year after planting, significantly reducing the time loss before productive harvest

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If traditional cherry tree rootstocks are used, then yields are reduced, but higher yields are needed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrop yieldVSAvoidtree size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies parameter changes by using the 'Lake' rootstock to decouple the relationship between tree size and yield, achieving higher crop yields per unit area despite the reduced tree size, thereby improving the yield-to-size ratio parameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUSPP32813P3Cherry tree (rootstock) named ‘Lake’

Publication Date: 2021.02.16 BOARD OF TRUSTEES OPERATING MICHIGAN STATE UNIV

AI summary

A new cherry tree variety suitable for use as rootstock.