Variegated Chasmanthium Cultivar with Stable Asexual Propagation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of ornamental grass cultivars with variegated foliage among Northern sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), limiting aesthetic diversity in landscaping.

Innovation Solution

The development of 'River Mist', a new cultivar of Chasmanthium latifolium with variegated white and green foliage and cascading white seed heads, achieved through natural mutation and stable asexual reproduction methods like culm division and in vitro propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If natural mutation is used to create variegated foliage, then aesthetic diversity is improved, but the stability of plant characteristics may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoliage appearanceVSAvoidcharacteristic stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses asexual reproduction methods (culm division and in vitro propagation) to create exact copies of the mutated plant, ensuring that the variegated foliage characteristics are replicated faithfully across generations without genetic variation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the genetic parameters of the plant through natural mutation to produce variegated foliage, then stabilizes these parameter changes through asexual reproduction to maintain consistent characteristics across generations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If asexual reproduction methods are used to propagate the cultivar, then characteristic stability is improved, but propagation time and complexity may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharacteristic stabilityVSAvoidpropagation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes multiple propagation pathways (culm division and in vitro propagation) in advance, allowing for efficient multiplication of the cultivar once the stable mutation is achieved, reducing the overall time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses tissue culture as an intermediary propagation method that accelerates the multiplication process compared to traditional culm division, reducing the time required to produce large numbers of stable plants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUSPP20643P2Chasmanthium plant named `River Mist`

Publication Date: 2010.01.12 ITSAUL PLANTS LLC

AI summary

A new cultivar of Chasmanthium latifolium, ‘River Mist’, characterized by its green and white variegated foliage and its white seed heads that cascade from upright culms.