S-49 Fig Tree Dual-Crop Yield and Decay Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fig tree varieties face challenges in producing fruit that is commercially viable for the fresh market due to issues with harvesting timing, exterior appearance, and internal decay, limiting their availability and marketability.

Innovation Solution

The development of the 'S-49' fig tree variety, which is a result of controlled hybrid cross-pollination between 'Desert King' and '91C' caprifig, exhibits precocious growth, regular fruiting, and produces large, red-purple figs with a small fruit eye, thick skin, and sweet, strawberry-red pulp, making it suitable for packing and shipping as a fresh-market product.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If fig trees are harvested early in the season, then fruit is available sooner in the market, but the season for prime-sized figs is limited and other varieties dominate availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharvesting timeVSAvoidseason length for prime figs

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fig tree variety produces two distinct crops per year (breba crop in spring/early summer and main crop in late summer/fall), creating periodic fruiting cycles that extend the overall harvesting season and provide continuous market availability throughout different time periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Ease of operation

If fig fruit has a large eye opening, then insect entry is facilitated, but internal decay increases and fruit quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsect accessVSAvoidfruit quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fruit eye (ostiole) is specifically designed with a small opening size that restricts insect entry, while the rest of the fruit structure maintains optimal qualities for marketability including thick durable skin and large size, creating localized functional differentiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If fig skin is thin, then fruit is more tender and appealing, but durability during packing and shipping is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit tendernessVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fruit skin is specifically characterized as moderately thick and durable, providing localized protective function for the fruit interior during handling and shipping, while the overall fruit maintains large size and appealing appearance for marketability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If fig trees require pollination for fruit production, then fruit set can be controlled, but productivity is reduced and regular bearing is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit set controlVSAvoidregular fruit bearing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fig tree variety is self-fertile and does not require external pollination for fruit production, allowing the tree to service itself by producing both breba and main crops regularly without dependence on pollinators or manual pollination interventions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUSPP27982P2Fig tree named ‘S-49’

Publication Date: 2017.05.09 THE DOYLE FAMILY TRUST

AI summary

A new and distinct variety of fig tree which is denominated varietally as ‘S-49’ is described, and which further produces an attractively colored fig which is ripe for harvesting and shipment of a second crop during late July and early August under the ecological conditions prevailing in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California.