Smithopus3 Itoh Peony with Strong Stems and Disease-Resistant Foliage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Paeonia cultivars lack strong stems, large double-pink flowers, and compact growth habits, with some being fertile and others lacking disease resistance, making them less desirable for landscaping.
Innovation Solution
Development of a sterile, triploid intersectional hybrid peony cultivar 'Smithopus3' with semi-woody stems, large double-pink flowers, and disease-resistant foliage, achieved through asexual reproduction by tissue culture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If existing Paeonia cultivars are used, then they have various characteristics, but they lack the combination of strong stems, large double-pink flowers, and compact growth habits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines desirable traits from two different Paeonia parent cultivars through controlled hybridization. The seed parent 'Martha W' contributes herbaceous growth habit and pink flowers, while the pollen parent 'Weipa' contributes strong stems and double flower form. The resulting cultivar 'Smithopus3' merges these characteristics to achieve strong semi-woody stems, large double-pink flowers, and a compact growth habit that is ideal for landscaping.
2Reliability
If fertile Paeonia cultivars are used, then they can reproduce sexually, but they lack disease resistance and desirable compact habits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes triploidy (3n=27 chromosomes) as a genetic parameter change to achieve sterility in the new cultivar. The triploid condition results from the cross between diploid parent 'Martha W' (2n=18) and tetraploid parent 'Weipa' (4n=36). This chromosomal parameter change prevents sexual reproduction while allowing the plant to maintain strong disease resistance and compact growth habits through asexual propagation via tissue culture.
3Strength
If herbaceous Paeonia cultivars are used, then they have soft stems, but they lack the strength and winter hardiness of woody cultivars
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a cultivar with heterogeneous stem characteristics - the lower portion develops into strong semi-woody stems providing structural support and some winter hardiness, while the upper portion maintains herbaceous characteristics for vigorous flowering. This local differentiation of stem quality allows the plant to combine the strengths of both herbaceous and woody peonies, achieving both stem strength and adequate winter hardiness.
4Quantity of substance
If single-form flowers are used, then they have fewer petals, but double-form flowers require more complex genetic conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary genetic preparation by selecting specific parent cultivars with known genetic characteristics that will produce the desired double flower form in their hybrid offspring. The pollen parent 'Weipa' is specifically chosen as a tetraploid with double flower form, which pre-disposes the hybrid to develop multiple petals. This preliminary genetic setup simplifies the achievement of double flowers compared to attempting to induce them through complex post-breeding interventions.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct cultivar of intersectional hybrid (Itoh) Paeonia plant named ‘Smithopus3’ is disclosed, large flowers colored pink with a distinctive red basal flare of double form carried on strong stems, which present the flowers above and beyond the foliage. Plants have very attractive, dissected foliage, which lasts through the fall and is also highly disease resistant. Plants have a symmetrical, compact plant habit/shape which is excellent in the landscape. The new variety is a intersectional hybrid (Itoh) Paeonia normally produced as an outdoor ornamental garden plant.