Inbred Corn Line BC5 Hybrid Breeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new corn inbred lines is a time-consuming and unpredictable process due to the complexity of combining desirable traits such as higher yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to environmental conditions, with conventional breeding methods lacking control over genetic variations and requiring extensive research efforts.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the inbred corn line BC5, which is a yellow dent corn with superior characteristics, and methods for producing and utilizing it, including crossing with other lines to create hybrid seeds and plants with specific traits like male sterility, disease resistance, and improved nutritional quality, using techniques like backcrossing and genetic engineering to incorporate transgenes and maintain desired traits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional breeding methods are used to develop new corn inbred lines, then genetic diversity and trait combination are achieved, but the process is time-consuming and unpredictable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait combinationVSAvoidbreeding process duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-characterizing inbred line BC5 with multiple desirable traits (yield, disease resistance, adaptability) before using it in hybrid crosses. This pre-selection and characterization of parent lines accelerates the breeding process by eliminating the need for extensive field testing of new inbred lines, as BC5's superior traits are already established and can be directly transferred to hybrids through controlled crosses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If extensive breeding programs are conducted to combine multiple desirable traits, then trait combination improves, but resource expenditure and program complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesirable traits combinationVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple desirable traits into a single inbred line (BC5) through prior breeding work, combining yield potential, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability. This consolidation allows breeders to use one pre-characterized parent line instead of managing complex multi-line breeding programs, simplifying the overall breeding program while maintaining trait diversity in the resulting hybrids

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inbred line BC5 is developed as a universal parent line that can be crossed with multiple different inbred lines to produce hybrids with desirable traits. This multi-functional inbred line serves various breeding objectives (yield improvement, disease resistance, adaptability) across different hybrid combinations, reducing the need for separate specialized breeding programs for each trait

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If traditional breeding methods are used without genetic control, then natural genetic variation is maintained, but predictability of breeding outcomes decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic stabilityVSAvoidbreeding outcome predictability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by using molecular marker technology to track and select for specific genes and traits during the breeding process. This molecular-level feedback mechanism allows breeders to precisely monitor genetic composition and breeding progress, enabling predictable selection of desired traits while maintaining the stability of the inbred line BC5 and its offspring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS7605310B2Inbred corn line BC5
Publication Date: 2009.10.20 LIMAGRAIN EURO SA

AI summary

An inbred corn line, designated BC5, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line BC5, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line BC5 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line BC5 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred BC5.