MAIA7 Apple Tree Extended Storage Crispness
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a new apple tree variety that offers superior fruit quality, precocity, and extended storage crispness, while differing from existing varieties like 'Honeycrisp' and 'Golden Delicious' in terms of flavor, ripening time, and skin color.
Innovation Solution
The 'MAIA7' apple tree variety, derived from an open-pollinated 'Honeycrisp' block, exhibits a unique combination of tart and sweet flavors with hints of pineapple and brown sugar, maintaining crisp texture and flavor for at least 10 weeks longer than 'Honeycrisp' in storage, with yellow skin and medium-sized fruit, and is propagated through grafting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If 'Honeycrisp' apple variety is used, then flavor quality is improved, but storage crispness duration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent describes a new apple variety 'MAIA7' with modified genetic parameters that result in extended storage crispness duration of at least 10 weeks longer than 'Honeycrisp', while maintaining complex sweet-tart flavors. This represents a parameter change in the apple variety's inherent characteristics to resolve the contradiction between flavor quality and storage duration.
2Speed
If apple variety ripens early like 'Honeycrisp', then market timing is improved, but storage life extension is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The 'MAIA7' variety maintains a mid-October ripening time (similar timing to 'Honeycrisp') while simultaneously achieving extended storage crispness duration of at least 10 weeks longer. This parameter change in the variety's physiological characteristics allows both early market timing and extended storage life.
3Volume of moving object
If apple size is increased like 'Golden Delicious', then market appeal is improved, but flavor complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The 'MAIA7' variety produces medium-sized apples (slightly smaller than 'Golden Delicious' by 1/4 inch diameter) that maintain complex sweet-tart flavors with hints of pineapple and brown sugar. This parameter change in size while preserving flavor complexity resolves the contradiction between apple size and flavor complexity.
4Shape
If yellow skin color is used like 'Goldrush
Solution Approach 1:
The 'MAIA7' variety exhibits yellow skin color (R.H.S. Color Chart Yellow Group 13A) similar to 'Goldrush' while maintaining a distinct complex sweet-tart flavor profile with hints of pineapple and brown sugar. This parameter change in skin color without compromising flavor profile resolves the contradiction between appearance and taste.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct variety of apple tree was identified from a population of seedlings derived from an open-pollinated ‘Honeycrisp’ progeny test. The new variety, named ‘MAIA7’ is distinct from ‘Honeycrisp’ as ‘MAIA7’ ripens mid-October, 4-5 weeks after ‘Honeycrisp’. Unlike ‘Honeycrisp’, ‘MAIA7’ has yellow skin (R.H.S. Color Chart Yellow Group 13A), similar in appearance to ‘Goldrush’. ‘MAIA7’ fruit are medium sized, extremely crisp, with complex sweet-tart flavors that includes tones of brown sugar and pineapple. ‘MAIA7’ maintains crisp texture and full flavor in 35° F. storage for at least 10 weeks longer than ‘Honeycrisp’.