RL 100 Sweet Cherry Tree Red Fruit Early Maturity

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a new sweet cherry tree variety that offers attractive red fruit with a pleasant sub-acid flavor and early maturity, as existing varieties like 'Rainier' and 'Sonata' lack these specific characteristics.

Innovation Solution

The 'RL 100' sweet cherry tree, discovered as a whole tree mutation, is distinguished by its red fruit with sub-acid flavor and early maturity, characterized by its unique botanical features and propagation through bud grafting, which remains true to type through successive generations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing cherry varieties like 'Rainier' and 'Sonata' are used, then they have established market presence, but they lack attractive red fruit with sub-acid flavor and early maturity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit characteristics (red color, sub-acid flavor, early maturity)VSAvoidmarket consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a mutation with specific altered characteristics: red fruit skin color (vs. yellow/orange in parent varieties), sub-acid flavor profile (vs. sweet or bland), and early harvest maturity (vs. mid to late season). These parameter changes create a distinct variety that fills a market niche for early-season red cherries with complex flavor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If 'RL 100' is propagated through bud grafting, then it remains true to type through successive generations, but propagation complexity increases compared to seed propagation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariety fidelityVSAvoidpropagation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs bud grafting, a self-service propagation method where the scion (desired variety) is grafted onto a rootstock. This allows the variety to propagate itself faithfully without sexual reproduction, maintaining genetic identity across generations while establishing a commercially viable propagation system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If 'RL 100' targets early season premium fresh market, then it captures early market opportunities, but harvest window is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveearly market captureVSAvoidharvest season length

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The early maturity characteristic of 'RL 100' allows preliminary action in the market by harvesting and supplying cherries earlier in the season before other varieties are available. This creates a first-mover advantage in the premium fresh market, capturing consumer demand during the early season window.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUSPP34681P2Cherry tree named ‘RL 100’

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 LEITZ RICHARD W

AI summary

A new cherry tree notable for its attractive red fruit, which has a pleasant sub-acid flavor and matures early in the season.