Plumred XII Hybrid Plum Tree Fruit Quality and Pollination
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a new plum tree variety that combines desirable traits such as medium to large size, self-unfruitfulness, late-season blooming, and production of large, sweet, semi-freestone fruit with red skin and flesh, which are not adequately met by existing plum tree varieties like 'Black Majesty' and 'Plumred IX'.
Innovation Solution
The development of the 'Plumred XII' plum tree variety, which is a cross between 'Black Majesty' and other plum and apricot trees, resulting in a medium to large-sized, vigorous, and productive tree that requires cross-pollination, producing uniformly medium to large-sized, full red fruit that is semi-freestone in type and matures later than its parent varieties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If plum trees are hybridized to produce larger, sweeter fruit with red skin and flesh, then fruit quality is improved, but the tree becomes self-unfruitful requiring cross-pollination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple desirable traits from different parent varieties into a single hybrid variety. The 'Plumred XII' variety merges the large fruit size and sweetness from one parent with the red skin and flesh color from another parent, creating a unified variety that exhibits all these improved qualities simultaneously while accepting the self-unfruitful characteristic as part of the hybridization process
2Manufacturing precision
If the plum tree is bred for later maturation to extend the growing season, then fruit quality and size are improved, but the growing period is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the maturation parameter of the plum variety by selecting for later-maturing offspring from the hybridization cross. The 'Plumred XII' variety matures approximately two weeks later than the 'Black Majesty' parent, which allows the tree to accumulate more growing degree days and produce larger, sweeter fruit with improved quality characteristics
3Quantity of substance
If the plum tree produces medium to large sized fruit, then market value is improved, but the tree requires more resources and space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a variety that serves multiple functions simultaneously: it produces medium to large sized fruit for market value, maintains vigorous tree growth for productivity, and achieves self-unfruitfulness to ensure cross-pollination and genetic diversity. The 'Plumred XII' variety functions as both a high-quality fruit producer and a robust tree that can be grafted onto various rootstocks
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plum tree and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium to large size, vigorous, hardy, and productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from an apricot, interspecific, or plum that blooms during the mid to late season, such as ‘September Yummy’ plum (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,220). The present variety produces a medium amount of bloom with plenty of pollen to entice good bee activity to facilitate pollination. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during the last part of September, with first picking on Sep. 21, 2015, and will hang on the tree an additional twenty days. The fruit is uniformly medium to large in size, full red in skin color, full red in flesh color, semi-freestone in type, mostly oblate in shape, firm in texture, very sweet, and excellent in flavor.