Themeda trianda Variety THEM01 Mounded Growth Habit
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of commercially developed ornamental grass varieties with improved characteristics such as increased plant size, mounded growth habit, and high shoot density within the Themeda trianda genus, limiting options for landscapers and container gardeners.
Innovation Solution
The development of the Themeda trianda variety 'THEM01', which exhibits a mounded growth habit, larger plant size, and high shoot density due to its strong, woody culms and increased branching, achieved through asexual propagation and selection from Themeda trianda 'Mingo' plants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If traditional Themeda trianda varieties are used, then basic ornamental function is provided, but plant size remains small and growth habit is not mounded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a mutant plant that exhibits altered growth parameters (larger size, mounded habit) compared to the parent species. This involves changing the biological parameters of the plant through selective breeding rather than modifying physical or chemical parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses asexual propagation methods to create exact copies of the selected mutant plant. This ensures that the improved characteristics (larger size, mounded growth habit) are replicated consistently across multiple plants, resolving the contradiction between achieving larger size and maintaining growth habit stability.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional Themeda trianda varieties are used, then basic ornamental function is provided, but shoot density and branching are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the biological parameters of the plant by selecting a mutant with naturally increased shoot density and branching. This mutant exhibits a higher quantity of shoots and more complex branching structure compared to the parent species, achieving the desired increase in shoot density without artificial intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
Through asexual propagation, the patent creates multiple copies of the mutant plant that inherently possesses high shoot density and complex branching. This copying approach ensures consistent replication of the dense, branched structure across the population, maintaining both quantity and structural complexity.
3Length of stationary object
If larger plant size is achieved, then ornamental value is improved, but plant compactness and density may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes multiple biological parameters simultaneously in the mutant plant: not only is the overall size increased, but also the growth habit is changed to mounded, and shoot density is increased. This multi-parameter change allows the plant to be larger while maintaining compactness through the mounded growth form and dense shoot arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The asexual propagation method copies the complete phenotypic package of the mutant plant, including the mounded growth habit that provides compactness. This ensures that larger size and maintained compactness are inherited together in all propagated plants, resolving the contradiction between size and compactness.
Data Source
AI summary
‘THEM01’ is a distinctive variety of Themeda trianda which is characterized by a mounded growth habit, a larger plant size, high shoot density, and a high degree of branching of culms which translates to a compact and dense plant habit.