MAIA12 Apple Tree Hybrid Merging Honeycrisp Fuji Traits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current apple tree varieties, such as 'Honeycrisp' and 'Fuji', face limitations in growth vigor, consistent cropping, and storage quality, with 'Honeycrisp' ripening too late and 'Fuji' taking too long to ripen, and lacking in high yield potential and disease resistance.

Innovation Solution

A new apple tree variety, 'MAIA12', derived from a cross between 'Honeycrisp' and 'Fuji', exhibits superior growth vigor, early ripening, consistent annual cropping, and high yield potential, with distinct fruit characteristics like medium size, crisp texture, and long storability, while maintaining resistance to certain diseases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If 'Honeycrisp' is used, then fruit quality is improved, but ripening time is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit qualityVSAvoidripening time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the genetic material of 'Honeycrisp' (providing superior fruit quality) and 'Fuji' (providing earlier ripening) through controlled cross-breeding to create 'MAIA12'. This merging of parental traits resolves the contradiction by achieving both high fruit quality and earlier ripening that neither parent alone could provide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of time

If 'Fuji' is used, then ripening time is reduced, but growth vigor and yield potential are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveripening timeVSAvoidyield potential

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the early ripening trait from 'Fuji' with the vigorous growth and high yield potential from 'Honeycrisp' in the hybrid variety 'MAIA12'. This combination allows the new variety to ripen 6 weeks before 'Fuji' while simultaneously achieving higher yield potential through superior tree vigor and consistent annual cropping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If traditional apple varieties are used, then disease resistance is maintained, but consistent annual cropping is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease resistanceVSAvoidconsistent annual cropping

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the disease resistance traits from both parental varieties with the consistent annual cropping ability in the hybrid 'MAIA12'. The new variety demonstrates consistent bearing year after year with minimal horticultural inputs while maintaining resistance to fireblight and other diseases, resolving the contradiction between disease resistance and consistent production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUSPP29213P2Apple tree named ‘MAIA12’

Publication Date: 2018.04.10 MIDWEST APPLE IMPROVEMENT ASSOC

AI summary

A new and distinct variety of apple tree was identified from a population of seedlings derived from a cross of ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Fuji’. The new variety, named ‘MAIA12’ is distinct from ‘Honeycrisp’ as ‘MAIA12’ ripens late-August, 1 week before ‘Honeycrisp’. Unlike ‘Honeycrisp’, ‘MAIA12’ is a fast-growing, vigorous tree with long shoots and leaves. ‘MAIA12’ is distinct from ‘Fuji’ as ‘MAIA12’ ripens 6 weeks before ‘Fuji’. Unlike ‘Fuji’, ‘MAIA12’ has consistent annual cropping with minimal horticultural inputs. ‘MAIA12’ fruit are medium sized, extremely crisp, with simple sweet-tart flavor and long storability.