Phlox Candy Floss Compact Growth and Mildew Resistance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Phlox cultivars lack compact growth habits and effective resistance to Powdery Mildew, with limited attractive flower color options and continuous flowering capabilities.

Innovation Solution

Development of the 'Candy Floss' cultivar through controlled cross-pollination, resulting in an upright, compact, and densely branching plant with dark pink flowers and enhanced Powdery Mildew resistance, achieved through vegetative reproduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional Phlox cultivars are grown, then they provide flowering capability, but they lack compact growth habits and are susceptible to Powdery Mildew

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePowdery Mildew resistanceVSAvoidPowdery Mildew susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and breeding plants with specific genetic parameters that confer Powdery Mildew resistance while maintaining compact growth habits. The 'Candy Floss' cultivar exhibits altered growth parameters (compactness, branching density) and disease resistance parameters compared to traditional Phlox cultivars, resolving the contradiction between reliability and susceptibility to harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of moving object

If existing Phlox cultivars are used, then they provide flowering, but they lack continuous flowering capability and attractive coloration

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveContinuous flowering durationVSAvoidFlowering productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuity of useful action by developing a cultivar with extended flowering duration through controlled breeding. The 'Candy Floss' cultivar maintains continuous flowering capability over an extended period, ensuring the useful action of flowering persists throughout the growing season, thereby resolving the contradiction between duration and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Shape

If non-compact Phlox varieties are grown, then they provide flowering, but they lack dense branching and compact habit

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePlant compactnessVSAvoidGarden performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by developing a cultivar with differentiated local characteristics - dense basal branching near the ground and compact overall habit. The 'Candy Floss' cultivar exhibits localized dense branching at the base that contributes to compact appearance while maintaining flowering productivity, resolving the contradiction between shape and ease of operation in garden settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUSPP18163P2Phlox plant named 'Candy Floss'

Publication Date: 2007.10.30 A VERSCHOOR HORTICULTURE

AI summary

A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Candy Floss’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit; freely basally branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; attractive dark pink-colored flowers; freely and continuous flowering habit; resistance to Powdery Mildew; and good garden performance.