Royal Blush Cherry Tree Breeding for Fruit Size and Maturity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cherry tree varieties lack a cultivar that combines large fruit size, early maturity, and consistent productivity with desirable flavor and eating quality, as well as attractive appearance, which are not adequately met by 'Royal Rainier' Cherry or proprietary selections like '23ZM89'.
Innovation Solution
The development of the 'Royal Blush' cherry tree variety, which is asexually reproduced on 'Mahaleb' Rootstock, offering larger fruit size, approximately 10 days earlier maturity than '23ZM89', and 6 days later maturity than 'Royal Rainier', with vigorous growth, regular bearing, and excellent flavor and eating quality, characterized by a red blush over yellowish-white skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing cherry tree varieties like 'Royal Rainier' or proprietary selections like '23ZM89' are used, then they provide certain fruit characteristics, but they fail to simultaneously achieve large fruit size, early maturity, and consistent productivity with desirable flavor and appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a seedling with specific genetic parameters that optimize multiple fruit characteristics simultaneously. The 'Royal Blush' variety was selected from open-pollinated seedlings of '23ZM89' and exhibits altered parameters including larger fruit size (27-30mm diameter), earlier maturity (10 days before '23ZM89'), and consistent productivity across multiple growing seasons, while maintaining desirable flavor and appearance traits
2Volume of moving object
If cherry varieties aim for larger fruit size, then fruit dimensions increase, but maturity timing and productivity consistency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention resolves this contradiction through parameter changes in the genetic selection process. The 'Royal Blush' variety was specifically selected to exhibit the parameter combination of larger fruit volume (27-30mm diameter compared to typical varieties) while simultaneously achieving earlier maturity timing (10 days before the seed parent '23ZM89' and 6 days before 'Royal Rainier'), thus improving both fruit size and maturity timing parameters together rather than trading one for the other
3Loss of time
If cherry varieties are selected for early maturity, then harvest time is reduced, but fruit size and productivity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent overcomes this contradiction by identifying and propagating a genetic variant with altered developmental parameters. The 'Royal Blush' variety matures 10 days earlier than its seed parent '23ZM89' and 6 days earlier than the commercial variety 'Royal Rainier', yet simultaneously produces larger fruit (27-30mm diameter) with consistent productivity across multiple growing seasons, demonstrating that early maturity and large fruit size can be achieved together through selective breeding
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct variety of cherry tree (Prunus avium). The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Mahaleb’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features:1. Tree with a vigorous, upright growth habit.2. Regular and productive bearer of large size fruit.3. Fruit with an attractive red blush over yellowish-white skin.4. Fruit with very good flavor and eating quality with a good balance between acid and sugar.5. Fruit with good handling and storage quality.