Sandhill Schizachyrium scoparium cultivar foliage width
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of a Schizachyrium scoparium plant with consistent and unique characteristics such as height and foliage color in the market, as existing cultivars like 'MinnblueA', 'Standing Ovation', and 'Prairie Blues' do not match the desired 120 cm height and extra wide gray-green foliage with specific coloration of 'Sandhill'.
Innovation Solution
A new seedling selection of Schizachyrium scoparium named 'Sandhill' with a height of 120 cm and extra wide gray-green foliage, characterized by RHS 137 B to 191 A coloration, which has been stabilized through asexual vegetative division propagation, ensuring uniformity and identity in reproduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If existing Schizachyrium scoparium cultivars like 'MinnblueA', 'Standing Ovation', and 'Prairie Blues' are used, then they are available in the market with established propagation methods, but they do not achieve the desired 120 cm height and extra wide gray-green foliage with specific coloration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and stabilizing specific phenotypic parameters of Schizachyrium scoparium to create a new cultivar with distinct characteristics: 120 cm height, 9 mm foliage width (double the width of existing cultivars), and RHS 137 B to 191 A coloration. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by achieving the desired manufacturing precision in foliage dimensions and color while expanding cultivar versatility through a new distinct variety.
2Manufacturing precision
If a new Schizachyrium scoparium selection with 120 cm height and extra wide gray-green foliage is created, then unique and stable characteristics are achieved, but it requires extensive vegetative propagation to stabilize and reproduce uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs copying through asexual vegetative division propagation to reproduce the new 'Sandhill' cultivar. Over 2000 vegetative divisions have been made from 2020 to 2023, creating uniform copies of the parent plant that maintain the desired 120 cm height and gray-green foliage coloration. This copying approach ensures manufacturing precision in the form of uniform height and color while addressing productivity through efficient vegetative propagation methods that have successfully stabilized the cultivar.
3Stability of the object's composition
If Schizachyrium scoparium is propagated through vegetative division, then uniformity and stability in height and foliage color are maintained, but the propagation process is time-consuming and requires multiple divisions over several years
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing extensive vegetative propagation work in advance to stabilize the new 'Sandhill' cultivar before commercial release. From 2020 to 2023, over 2000 vegetative divisions were made to establish uniformity in height and foliage color, and to propagate enough plants for initial market introduction in 2023. This preliminary propagation effort ensures that when the cultivar is released, stable and uniform plants are immediately available, reducing the time loss that would otherwise occur during early commercial propagation.
Data Source
AI summary
A new, distinct Schizachyrium scoparium plant as illustrated and described, characterized by a height of 120 cm, extra wide gray-green colored foliage.