PLUMSWEET XXV 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 fruit with specific characteristics such as globose shape, dark purplish-red skin, full red flesh, firm and crisp texture, and low acidity, which are not adequately met by existing plum tree varieties.
Innovation Solution
The development of the 'PLUMSWEET XXV' plum tree variety, which is self-unfruitful and requires cross-pollination, characterized by its late blooming, heavy flower production for bee activity, and producing fruit that is globose, deep purplish-red with heavy freckling, and virtually non-acidic, with a specific set of pomological characteristics including size, shape, color, texture, and flavor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If self-unfruitful variety is developed, then cross-pollination requirement improves fruit quality, but pollination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces specific pollinator varieties (such as 'Plumred VII' interspecific tree) as intermediaries to facilitate cross-pollination. These pollinator trees serve as mediators that carry compatible pollen traits, ensuring reliable fruit quality while managing pollination complexity through controlled variety selection rather than random pollination.
2Loss of time
If late blooming is achieved, then fruit maturity is extended, but pollination window is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by selecting and breeding trees with modified blooming timing characteristics. The 'PLUMSWEET XXV' variety was specifically selected for its late blooming parameter, which extends fruit maturity into late August. This parameter change is balanced by ensuring compatibility with pollinators that bloom in the same late season window.
3Productivity
If heavy flower production is increased, then bee activity is enhanced, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by producing moderate amounts of pollen that naturally entice bee activity. The heavy flower density of the 'PLUMSWEET XXV' variety creates an automatic attraction mechanism where the abundance of flowers themselves serves as the resource to draw pollinators, rather than requiring additional external resources or interventions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plum tree, Prunus salicina, and more particularly to a new and distinct variety broadly characterized by a medium 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 late season, such as ‘Plumred VII’ interspecific tree (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,688). The present variety produces a heavy density of flowers that produce a moderate amount of pollen to entice good bee activity to facilitate pollination. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described during late August, with first picking on Aug. 22, 2021. The fruit is uniformly large in size, globose to oblate in shape, very deep purplish red with heavy freckling in skin color, full red flesh in color, clingstone in type, firm and crisp in texture, juicy, very sweet, excellent in flavor, and virtually non-acidic in both the flesh and skin.