Plumsweet XXI Plum Tree Cross-Pollination and Fruit Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a new plum tree variety that is self-unfruitful and requires cross-pollination, producing clingstone fruit that is dark red in flesh color, firm, juicy, and very sweet, with specific characteristics such as smaller size, ovate shape, and late-season blooming, which are not met by existing varieties like 'Plumred X' and 'Blackred XXI.
Innovation Solution
The development of the 'Plumsweet XXI' plum tree variety, which is self-unfruitful, medium vigorous, and productive, requiring cross-pollination, and produces fruit that is dark purplish red in skin color, dark red in flesh, clingstone in type, and ovate in shape, with improved size, color, and ripening characteristics compared to its seed parent 'Plumred X' and similar to 'Blackred XXI'.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the plum tree variety is made self-unfruitful to require cross-pollination, then fruit quality and sweetness are improved, but the complexity of pollination management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces bee hives as intermediary agents to facilitate cross-pollination between different plum tree varieties. The bees act as natural mediators that transfer pollen between trees, enabling the self-unfruitful variety to produce high-quality fruit without requiring complex manual pollination management.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the fruit is made clingstone type with dark red flesh color, then flavor and sweetness are enhanced, but the shipping durability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the ripening parameters and harvesting timing of the clingstone plum variety to achieve the right balance between flavor development and shipping durability. By controlling the maturity level at harvest and using appropriate post-harvest treatments, the fruit maintains its superior dark red color and sweetness while improving its ability to withstand shipping conditions.
3Area of stationary object
If the tree size is reduced for easier management, then the productivity per unit area increases, but the total fruit production decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic pruning and training systems that allow the small plum trees to adapt their growth patterns based on environmental conditions and market demands. The trees can adjust their canopy structure and fruit bearing capacity to optimize both space utilization and total production, transforming from static small trees to dynamically adaptable fruiting systems.
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 small size, medium vigorous, hardy, and very productive tree. Being self-unfruitful, the present variety requires cross pollination from an apricot, interspecific, or plum that blooms during the late season, such as ‘Plumred VII’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,688). The present variety produces a heavy amount of bloom with a moderate amount 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. 25, 2017, and will hang on the tree an additional thirty days. The fruit is uniformly medium in size, dark purplish red in skin color, dark red in flesh color, clingstone in type, mostly ovate in shape, firm in texture, very sweet, and outstanding in flavor.