Tanner Pecan Tree Breeding for Scab Resistance and Early Maturity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pecan tree varieties face challenges with inconsistent fruit production, susceptibility to scab fungus, and late nut maturity, which affects commercial viability and marketability.

Innovation Solution

The 'Tanner' pecan tree variety, resulting from controlled pollination between 'Desirable' and 'Pawnee', offers consistent fruit production, early nut maturity, large mammoth kernels with excellent color, and high resistance to scab fungus and moderate resistance to black aphids, addressing these issues through its unique combination of characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional pecan tree varieties are used, then fruit production may be achieved, but production consistency is poor and disease resistance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit production consistencyVSAvoidcommercial viability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selectively breeding and combining specific genetic parameters from parent varieties 'Desirable' and 'Pawnee' to create a new variety with improved and stable fruit production characteristics, achieving both consistency and commercial viability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If later maturing pecan varieties are used, then larger nuts may be produced, but marketability is reduced due to timing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenut sizeVSAvoidnut maturity timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the maturity timing parameter by crossing varieties with different maturation characteristics, resulting in a new variety that matures earlier while maintaining large nut size, thus improving marketability without sacrificing quantity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If scab fungus resistant varieties are used, then disease resistance is improved, but other desirable characteristics may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescab fungus resistanceVSAvoidoverall variety performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the scab fungus resistance characteristic from one parent with other desirable traits from the other parent through controlled cross-pollination, creating a composite variety that exhibits both disease resistance and high productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUSPP29422P3Pecan tree named ‘Tanner’

Publication Date: 2018.06.26 UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC

AI summary

A pecan tree distinguished by the following unique combination of characteristics: Consistent and acceptable fruit production, small fruit cluster, early nut maturity, large nut producing mammoth kernels with excellent color, and high resistance to scab fungus.