Sprouting Broccoli Floret Orientation for Simultaneous Harvest
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The cultivation of sprouting broccoli is limited by the need for vernalization, resulting in a narrow availability window, laborious harvesting due to sequential floret development, and increased vulnerability to diseases, making it unsuitable for moderate climate zones and extending the cultivation period.
Innovation Solution
Development of Brassica oleracea convar. botrytis var. asparagoides plants with a phenotype where florets develop in a single horizontal plane, allowing simultaneous harvest and reducing the cultivation period by eliminating the need for vernalization, resulting in a 'single cut' sprouting broccoli phenotype.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vernalization is required for sprouting broccoli cultivation, then the plant can develop florets, but the availability window becomes narrow and cultivation is limited to specific climate zones
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physiological requirements of sprouting broccoli through selective breeding to eliminate the vernalization requirement. This changes the temperature-time parameter that previously had to be satisfied (cold exposure of 5-12°C for 1-2 weeks), allowing the crop to be cultivated in moderate climate zones year-round without the restrictive cold period, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and time loss
2Productivity
If florets develop sequentially in sprouting broccoli, then the plant produces multiple harvestable sprouts, but harvesting becomes laborious and requires multiple cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sequential development pattern of florets into a simultaneous development pattern through selective breeding. Instead of florets developing one after another at different heights on the stem, the improved variety produces all florets in a single horizontal plane at the same developmental stage, allowing the entire crop to be harvested in one operation rather than requiring multiple harvesting cycles, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and ease of operation
3Reliability
If sprouting broccoli is cultivated with sequential floret development, then multiple sprouts are produced, but the cultivation period is extended and disease vulnerability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having all florets develop simultaneously in a condensed period rather than sequentially over an extended time. This preliminary concentration of the reproductive development phase shortens the overall cultivation duration from 115-230 days to a more compact period, reducing the window of vulnerability to diseases and disorders, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and duration of action
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to sprouting broccoli plants, or Brassica oleracea convar. botrytis var. asparagoides plants, with one or more improved phenotypes such as floret development in a single horizontal plane allowing simultaneous harvest of all florets, a reduced cultivation period until harvest and/or not requiring exposure to a cold period below 15°C during at least one to two weeks. The present invention further relates to seeds, cells and plant parts, especially harvestable plant parts such as florets, of the present plants.