Muscadine Grape Cultivar With Large Berries and Split Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing muscadine grape cultivars have characteristics such as thick skins, mucilaginous pulp, and limited berry size that affect palatability, hindering consumer appreciation and limiting the consumption and awareness of their health benefits.
Innovation Solution
Development of the 'USDA-ARS-Bertha Mae' muscadine grape cultivar with large berry size, light-green color, firm flesh, dry stem scars, and high soluble solids content, along with resistance to rain-induced physiological splitting, providing enjoyable consumption and improved market appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional muscadine grape cultivars are grown, then they have inherent resistance to pathogens and can be profitably grown in the southeastern U.S., but they have thick skins, mucilaginous pulp, and limited berry size that affect palatability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selectively breeding for specific berry characteristics including skin thickness, pulp texture, and berry size while maintaining disease resistance. The cultivar 'USDA-ARS-Bertha Mae' represents a change in the physical parameters of the fruit to improve palatability while preserving the pathological resistance of traditional muscadine grapes.
2Productivity
If new cultivars with improved fresh market berry qualities are developed, then consumer appreciation and consumption may increase, but breeding and development time and resources are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by conducting extensive preliminary breeding work, selection, and evaluation over multiple years before releasing the cultivar. The development process included preliminary crosses, selection of superior individuals, and multi-year field testing to ensure the cultivar meets desired criteria for palatability and productivity before commercial release.
3Weight of moving object
If berries are designed for fresh market with weight 10 g or more, then market appeal improves, but resistance to rain-induced physiological splitting becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by developing berries with large size for market appeal while simultaneously improving the local quality of the skin structure to enhance its mechanical strength and resistance to splitting. The cultivar exhibits locally optimized characteristics where the skin properties are specifically enhanced in the regions most susceptible to splitting while maintaining overall large berry size.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct muscadine grape plant, substantially as herein illustrated and described, characterized by mid-late season ripening berries, typically beginning in mid-August in Mississippi and Texas. ‘USDA-ARS-Bertha Mae’ has pistillate flowers and requires self-fertile pollinator cultivars to be grown nearby to achieve adequate pollination and fruit set. ‘USDA-ARS-Bertha Mae’ produces very large (˜14 g) berries having sweet and plum-like flavor, a relatively thin skin, and crisp pulp. Berries separate with high percentage of dry stem scars and are highly resistant to rain-induced physiological splitting.