Thome Red Apple Tree Limb Mutation for Early Fruit Coloration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apple tree varieties, such as 'Caudle', do not exhibit early red fruit coloration or darker leaf petiole and vein coloration, limiting their aesthetic and market appeal.
Innovation Solution
A naturally occurring limb mutation of 'Caudle' resulting in the 'Thome Red' variety, which displays early bright red fruit coloration, full red coloration with prominent stripes at maturity, and red leaf petiole and vein coloration, distinguishing it from its parent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the apple tree variety 'Caudle' is used, then the fruit production is maintained, but the fruit coloration is delayed and less intense
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and propagating a limb mutation with altered physiological parameters - specifically, the mutated limb produces fruit that colors 7-8 weeks earlier than the parent variety. This natural genetic variation changes the coloration timeline parameter from the parent's late coloration to the mutant's early July coloration, resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
2Illumination intensity
If the apple tree variety 'Caudle' is used, then the fruit production is maintained, but the red coloration intensity and coverage are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent directly applies color changes by propagating a limb mutation that produces dramatically different fruit coloration. The mutant limb fruit achieves 100% solid red coloration with bold red stripes, compared to the parent's greenish-yellow background with faint striping. This natural color mutation resolves the contradiction between coloration intensity and market appeal.
3Loss of time
If a limb mutation is selected for early coloration, then the coloration time is improved, but the genetic stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by propagating the desired limb mutation through chip budding to create multiple genetically identical copies. By taking buds from the original mutated limb and chip-budding them onto rootstock, the invention creates true-to-type clones that maintain the early coloration trait while ensuring genetic stability through asexual reproduction. This resolves the contradiction by copying the beneficial mutation without introducing new genetic variability.
Data Source
AI summary
A new and distinct variety of McIntosh apple tree, ‘Thome Red,’ originating as a naturally occurring limb mutation of the Malus domestica variety of ‘Caudle’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,068). This new variety is unique from its parent in the early timing of the red coloration the skin of the fruit, a much redder coloration of the skin of the fruit at maturity and the red coloration of the leaf petiole and veins.