Apollo Creed Lettuce: Advanced Genetic Cultivar Innovation

Publication ID: 24-11856904_0006_PTD

Published: October 26, 2025

Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Apollo Creed Lettuce: Advanced Genetic Cultivar Innovation,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11856904_0006_PTD, Published October 26, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11856904_0006_PTD

This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,856,904.

Background and Problem Solved

The original Apollo Creed lettuce cultivar has limitations in terms of disease susceptibility, bolting, and seed yield. The present invention addresses these limitations by introducing genetic modifications and single locus conversions to improve the cultivar's performance.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The novelty of the invention lies in the combination of genetic modifications and single locus conversions to improve the Apollo Creed lettuce cultivar, which is non-obvious compared to the original patent. The inventive step is the identification of specific genetic modifications and single locus conversions that improve the cultivar's performance while maintaining its desirable traits.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the invention may include using different genetic modifications or single locus conversions to achieve similar improvements in disease resistance, bolting resistance, seed yield, and core diameter. Variations of the invention may also include applying the improvements to other lettuce cultivars.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The invention has significant commercial potential in the agricultural industry, particularly in the lettuce production market. The improved Apollo Creed lettuce cultivar can be used for fresh market production, processing, and seed production, offering a competitive advantage to farmers and producers.

CPC Classifications

Section	Class	Group
A	A01	A01H6/1472
A	A01	A01H5/10
A	A01	A01H5/12

Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)

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Field of Art

Plant breeding and genetic modification of agricultural cultivars, specifically focused on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) improvement, requiring expertise in plant genetics, molecular biology, and agricultural science

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A plant breeder or agricultural geneticist with a PhD or equivalent experience, familiar with genetic modification techniques, plant breeding strategies, and molecular marker-assisted selection in crop improvement

Obviousness Rationale

A person skilled in the art would recognize that the proposed genetic modifications and single locus conversions represent standard techniques for improving crop performance. The PTD's variations follow predictable pathways of cultivar enhancement that are well-established in plant breeding, using known genetic strategies to address common agricultural challenges such as disease resistance and yield optimization.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element

Existing Apollo Creed lettuce cultivar with baseline genetic characteristics

PTD Variation

Genetic modification to enhance disease resistance

Obviousness Reasoning

Improving disease resistance is a standard breeding objective with known molecular techniques, representing a predictable solution to a common agricultural challenge

Source Patent Element

Base genetic profile of Apollo Creed lettuce

PTD Variation

Single locus conversion to improve bolting resistance

Obviousness Reasoning

Bolting resistance is a well-understood trait that can be manipulated through targeted genetic modifications, representing a finite set of known intervention strategies

Source Patent Element

Original lettuce cultivar's seed production characteristics

PTD Variation

Method of producing lettuce with increased seed yield through controlled crossing

Obviousness Reasoning

Crossbreeding to enhance seed yield is a fundamental plant breeding technique with predictable and reproducible outcomes

Source Patent Element

Initial core diameter and plant morphology of Apollo Creed

PTD Variation

Genetic modification to improve core diameter

Obviousness Reasoning

Morphological trait optimization through genetic modification is a standard approach in crop improvement, representing a known and expected breeding strategy

35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11856904 and the disclosed variations, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the proposed genetic modifications and breeding strategies obvious and predictable extensions of existing agricultural breeding techniques. The published technical disclosure demonstrates that the claimed variations represent routine optimization within the field of plant genetic improvement, thereby rendering subsequent claims of novelty non-patentable under standard obviousness analysis.

Original Patent Information

Patent Number	US 11,856,904
Title	Lettuce cultivar Apollo Creed
Assignee(s)	Southwest Genetics, LLC