Morrill Pecan Tree Breeding for Early Maturity and Disease Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pecan tree varieties lack precociousness, early nut maturity, large nut size, high kernel percentage, and adequate resistance to diseases and pests, making them less suitable for commercial production and garden cultivation.

Innovation Solution

The 'Morrill' pecan tree variety, resulting from controlled pollination between 'Wichita' and 'Pawnee', exhibits precociousness, moderately early nut maturity, large nut size, high kernel percentage, and moderate resistance to scab, powdery mildew, and black pecan aphid, achieved through asexual reproduction and grafting onto 'Kiowa' trees.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional pecan varieties are used for commercial production, then they have been cultivated for many years, but they lack precociousness, early nut maturity, large nut size, high kernel percentage, and adequate disease resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecociousness and early nut maturityVSAvoiddisease resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by creating a new genetic combination through controlled pollination between 'Wichita' and 'Pawnee' varieties. This breeding approach changes the genetic parameters of the pecan tree to achieve precociousness (fruiting at younger age), early nut maturity, and improved disease resistance simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials principle by combining desirable traits from two different parent varieties ('Wichita' and 'Pawnee') into a single hybrid variety 'Morrill'. This genetic composite combines the precociousness and early maturity characteristics with enhanced disease resistance, achieving both improved productivity and reliability in one variety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If existing pecan varieties are cultivated, then they have established growth patterns, but they do not exhibit large nut size with high kernel percentage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekernel percentageVSAvoidnut size and form

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the genetic parameters of the pecan variety through controlled breeding to produce nuts with larger size and higher kernel percentage. The 'Morrill' variety exhibits these improved parameters compared to traditional varieties, directly addressing the contradiction between quantity of substance (kernel percentage) and shape (nut size)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUSPP23335P2Pecan tree named ‘Morrill’

Publication Date: 2013.01.22 UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

AI summary

A pecan tree distinguished by the following unique combination of characteristics: Precociousness, moderately early nut maturity, large nut size, a nut with a high percentage kernel, exceptional kernel quality, moderate resistance to scab and good resistance to powdery mildew and to black pecan aphid.