Corn Variety Homozygosity for Predictable Hybrid Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing corn breeding methods struggle to develop uniform hybrid plants with desirable traits such as increased yield, disease resistance, and stability, often resulting in unpredictable performance due to genetic non-uniformity.

Innovation Solution

The development of the corn variety CV576039, which is homozygous and self-incompatible, combined with genetic modifications and cytoplasmic traits like CMS, allows for controlled pollination and the introduction of desired traits like herbicide tolerance and insect resistance through genome editing, ensuring uniformity and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional breeding methods are used to develop corn hybrids, then genetic diversity is maintained, but uniformity and predictability of hybrid performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictability of hybrid performanceVSAvoidgenetic uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program segments the development process into distinct phases: creating homozygous inbred lines through multiple generations of self-pollination, then crossing specific inbred pairs to produce uniform F1 hybrids. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each stage for uniformity and predictability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the genetic homogeneity parameter by advancing inbred lines through multiple generations of self-pollination (F2, F3, F4, etc.) to achieve near-complete homozygosity. This parameter change ensures that parental lines are genetically uniform, which in turn produces uniform F1 hybrid offspring with predictable performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If inbred plants are developed through multiple generations of selfing, then genetic uniformity improves, but time required for breeding increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomozygosity of inbred linesVSAvoidbreeding cycle duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program performs preliminary action by advancing inbred lines through multiple generations of self-pollination and selection before the crossing stage. This preliminary homozygization ensures that when crossing occurs, the parental lines are already genetically uniform, preventing the need for additional generation advancement after crossing and reducing overall program time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inbred lines serve themselves by undergoing self-pollination for multiple generations to achieve homozygosity. This self-service mechanism naturally selects for uniform genotypes without requiring continuous external intervention, efficiently producing genetically stable parental lines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If cross-pollination is used to produce hybrid seed, then genetic diversity and vigor are improved, but control over pollination and uniformity of progeny deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehybrid vigor and yieldVSAvoidcontrol of pollination process
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of attempting to control which specific pollen grains fertilize each silk, the program inverts the approach by first creating highly homozygous inbred parental lines. This inversion ensures that any cross between these lines produces uniform progeny, eliminating the need for precise pollination control while maintaining hybrid uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies homogeneity by ensuring that parental inbred lines are genetically uniform through multiple generations of selfing. This homogeneity in parental genotypes ensures that all F1 hybrid offspring from a given cross are genetically uniform, even though cross-pollination occurs naturally without precise control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

4Productivity

If desired traits are introduced through genetic modification, then trait introduction efficiency improves, but complexity of genetic background increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait introduction efficiencyVSAvoidgenetic background complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The program extracts the desired trait from the complex genetic modification process by using marker-assisted selection to identify and select only the specific genomic regions containing the trait of interest. This extraction allows introduction of desired traits while maintaining simplicity in the rest of the genetic background through continued inbreeding and selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12593791B2Plants and seeds of corn variety CV576039
Publication Date: 2026.04.07 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

According to the disclosure, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV576039. The disclosure thus relates to the plants, seeds, and tissue cultures of the variety CV576039, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV576039 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The disclosure further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV576039 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The disclosure further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV576039.