Mahon Yam Sweetpotato Root Quality and Leaf Morphology

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sweetpotato varieties like 'Beauregard' and 'Covington' lack the superior sweetness, moistness, and creamy texture of 'Mahon Yam', which has unique seven-lobed leaves and higher sugar content, making them less desirable for culinary use.

Innovation Solution

The 'Mahon Yam' sweetpotato variety, with its orange flesh and smooth skin, is developed through rigorous selection and asexual propagation to maintain its exceptional eating quality and stability across generations, distinguishing it from other varieties by its deep-lobed leaves and higher sugar content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional sweetpotato varieties like 'Beauregard' and 'Covington' are cultivated, then they are widely available and easy to grow, but they lack superior sweetness, moistness, and creamy texture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeating quality consistencyVSAvoidlack of sweetness and texture quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating plants with specific genetic traits that result in higher sugar content and altered texture characteristics. The 'Mahon Yam' variety exhibits naturally occurring genetic parameters that produce superior sweetness, moistness, and creaminess compared to traditional varieties, directly addressing the quality deficiency without requiring external additives or processing modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If 'Mahon Yam' variety is selected for superior eating quality, then sweetness and texture are improved, but leaf morphology becomes unusual with seven lobes instead of typical shape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuperior eating qualityVSAvoidleaf morphology

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by accepting that the unusual seven-lobed leaf morphology is a localized genetic trait that co-occurs with the desirable root quality characteristics. The selection process specifically targets the root eating quality parameters while the distinctive leaf shape serves as a visual identifier for this locally optimized variety, rather than attempting to separate these traits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If rigorous selection and asexual propagation are used to maintain stability, then eating quality consistency is improved, but breeding and propagation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariety stability across generationsVSAvoidbreeding and propagation process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by utilizing asexual propagation through storage root sprouts, which allows the variety to reproduce itself without requiring complex cross-breeding programs or external intervention. The plants naturally produce sprouts from storage roots that can be directly planted to generate true-to-type offspring, simplifying the propagation process while maintaining genetic stability across generations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUSPP20666P2Sweet potato plant named `Mahon Yam`

Publication Date: 2010.01.19 MAHON JOHN A

AI summary

A new variety of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas, identified as ‘Mahon Yam’ is disclosed having superior eating quality. ‘Mahon Yam’ is characterized by an orange fleshed root that when cooked is sweet, moist and not stringy or fibrous (i.e. creamy). The plant itself is distinguished by unusual leaves for an eating quality sweetpotato, they are seven (7) lobed.