Rubus Cultivar BT RASTWO Breeding for Pest Tolerance and Frost Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for new Rubus idaeus varieties with improved tolerance to environmental stresses and pests, as well as specific traits such as reduced spines, delayed fruit darkening, and enhanced frost resistance, which are not adequately addressed by existing cultivars.

Innovation Solution

The development of the Rubus cultivar 'BT RASTWO' through planned breeding, which exhibits unique characteristics like very small spines, good tolerance to raspberry mite and yellow raspberry rust, slow fruit darkening, and good resistance to frost damage, achieved through asexual reproduction by vegetative terminal cuttings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing Rubus cultivars are used, then general fruit production is achieved, but tolerance to environmental stresses and pests is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetolerance to environmental stresses and pestsVSAvoidadaptability to varying environmental conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program systematically varied genetic parameters through controlled crosses between parent plants with different trait combinations, selecting for optimal tolerance to environmental stresses and pests while maintaining adaptability across varying conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If conventional Rubus varieties are cultivated, then standard fruit production is achieved, but specific traits such as reduced spines and delayed fruit darkening are not present

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of harvest and handlingVSAvoidfruit color consistency during post-harvest

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program extracted and eliminated undesirable traits from the parent cultivars through selective breeding, specifically reducing spine density and modifying fruit pigment stability to delay darkening during post-harvest storage and transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cultivar exhibits modified physiological parameters including reduced spine density, altered fruit pigment stability, and changed phenological timing, resulting in improved ease of handling and maintained fruit color quality during storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If early fruit production is targeted, then market timing is improved, but frost damage resistance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit production timingVSAvoidresistance to frost damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivar exhibits modified phenological parameters with delayed fruit ripening on primocane by approximately 10 days compared to parent cultivars, which correlates with improved frost damage resistance while maintaining commercial productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUSPP33447P3<i>Rubus </i>plant named ‘BT RASTWO’

Publication Date: 2021.09.07 BERRYTECH SRL

AI summary

A new and distinct cultivar of Rubus plant named ‘BT RASTWO’ is disclosed, characterized by very good tolerance to raspberry mite (T. uticae), yellow raspberry rust (P. rubi-idae) and resistant to frost damage. Plants produce many root suckers and very small, sparse spines. Fruit is broad-conical in shape, and colored light red, maintaining this light color during post-harvest. Plants fruit on both previous year's cane (mid-season) and current year's cane (mid to late season). The new variety is a Rubus, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.