Royal Tioga Cherry Tree Early Ripening and Rootstock Grafting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cherry tree varieties face limitations in early fruit production, fruit size, ripening time, and maturity season, with many requiring longer chilling hours and exhibiting variable fruit quality and storage handling.
Innovation Solution
A new cherry tree variety (Prunus avium) is developed through asexual reproduction using proprietary seedlings '25Z134' and '6GM73', exhibiting vigorous growth, early blooming, and ripening, with attractive red skin, firm flesh, and good storage quality, budded onto 'Mahaleb' Rootstock for accelerated fruit production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing cherry tree varieties are used, then fruit production is achieved, but fruit production time is delayed and fruit size is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by buddening the new variety onto Mahaleb rootstock, which is known to accelerate fruit production. This preliminary grafting action enables the scion to fruit earlier than it would on its own rootstock, directly addressing the contradiction between achieving fruit production and reducing the time to first harvest
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the rootstock parameter from traditional varieties to Mahaleb rootstock, which has physiological properties that accelerate fruit production. This parameter change in the rootstock system enables earlier fruiting while maintaining the genetic characteristics of the new cherry variety
2Productivity
If existing cherry tree varieties are used, then fruit is produced, but fruit size and storage quality are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asexual reproduction through budding to create exact genetic copies of the selected superior tree. This copying method ensures that all desirable traits including large fruit size, firm flesh texture, and good storage quality are perfectly replicated in subsequent generations, making these reliable characteristics available for commercial production
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the genetic parameters of the cherry variety through controlled cross-breeding between selected parent trees. This results in a new variety with improved fruit parameters including larger size, firmer flesh, and better storage characteristics compared to existing varieties
3Productivity
If traditional cherry varieties are used, then fruit production is achieved, but chilling requirement is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physiological parameter of chilling requirement through controlled cross-breeding between parent trees with different chilling requirements. The new variety inherits a reduced chilling requirement of approximately 500 hours, allowing fruit production in warmer climates or with shorter winter periods while maintaining productive fruit bearing
4Productivity
If existing cherry varieties are used, then fruit is produced, but ripening time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the phenological parameter of ripening time through genetic selection and cross-breeding. The new variety exhibits accelerated ripening, producing fruit approximately 24 days earlier than the Brooks variety while maintaining good fruit set and yield, thus reducing the loss of time from bloom to harvest
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct variety of cherry tree. 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. Early blooming with a low winter chilling requirement of approximately 500 hours at or below 45° F.2. Fruit maturing in the early season.3. Fruit with an attractive red skin color.4. Fruit with good flavor and eating quality.5. Heavy and regular production of large size fruit.