Trailing Lobelia Cultivar DANANB6 Breeding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for new trailing perennial Lobelia varieties that exhibit distinct horticultural characteristics such as a trailing plant habit, large flat flowers, and glossy green leaves, which are not readily available in existing cultivars.
Innovation Solution
The development of the Lobelia cultivar 'DANANB6' through a planned breeding program, combining traits from proprietary seedling varieties 'LOB-6-382' and 'LOB-6-241', resulting in a cultivar with a trailing habit, blue flowers with a white eye, and glossy green leaves, which are stable across generations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If conventional Lobelia varieties are used, then they have established horticultural characteristics, but they lack the desired trailing habit and flat flower morphology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines traits from two different parent varieties (LOB-6-382 and LOB-6-241) through controlled cross-breeding to produce offspring that exhibit both the trailing habit and flat flower morphology. This merging of parental characteristics creates a new cultivar that simultaneously achieves multiple desirable traits that were not present in either parent alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The breeding program selectively modifies key morphological parameters including plant habit (from erect/mounded to trailing), flower shape (from undulating to flat), and leaf texture (from matte to glossy). These parameter changes are achieved through generations of selective breeding and stabilization to fix the desired traits in the new cultivar.
2Adaptability or versatility
If new breeding combinations are attempted, then unique traits like trailing habit and glossy leaves can be achieved, but the breeding process requires multiple generations to stabilize traits
Solution Approach 1:
The breeding program performs preliminary selective breeding between specific parent varieties that are pre-selected for complementary traits. By choosing parents with desirable characteristics (one contributing trailing tendency, another contributing flower morphology), the program accelerates the stabilization process and reduces the number of generations needed to achieve consistent trait expression in the offspring.
3Shape
If selection for trailing habit is made, then plant habit improves, but other horticultural characteristics may vary
Solution Approach 1:
The breeding program applies selective pressure to specific local traits (trailing habit, flower flatness, leaf glossiness) while maintaining overall genetic stability. By focusing selection on key morphological features rather than attempting to control all traits simultaneously, the program achieves stable expression of desired characteristics while allowing natural variation in less critical attributes.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct Lobelia cultivar named ‘DANANB6’ is disclosed, characterized by having bright blue flowers flowers, trailing plant habit, highly floriferous flowering and neutral flowering habit. The new variety is a Lobelia, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.