Inbred Corn Line LK4 Hybrid Yield and Stalk Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new corn cultivars is a time-consuming process due to the unpredictability of genetic traits in conventional breeding methods, making it challenging to identify superior inbred lines with desirable characteristics such as high yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to varying environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the inbred corn line LK4, which is specifically adapted for the East, Central, South, and Western regions of the US Corn Belt, offering high yield potential, uniformity, and stability, along with methods for producing hybrid seeds and transformed lines with desired traits like male sterility, herbicide resistance, and disease resistance through backcrossing and genetic modification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional breeding methods are used to develop new corn cultivars, then genetic diversity is maintained, but the process is time-consuming and unpredictable in identifying superior inbred lines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepredictability of identifying superior inbred linesVSAvoidtime required for cultivar development
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by developing inbred line LK4 with pre-established desirable traits (high yield potential, uniformity, stability, disease resistance) that can be directly used in hybrid combinations. This pre-development of superior parental lines reduces the time needed for subsequent breeding steps and increases predictability of successful hybrid outcomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying genetic parameters through controlled breeding and selection to create inbred line LK4 with specific desirable characteristics. The line exhibits optimized parameters including high yield potential, uniformity, stability, and adaptability to various environmental conditions, which are achieved through systematic genetic improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If extensive breeding evaluations and testing are conducted to ensure cultivar superiority, then reliability of selection is improved, but the breeding process becomes more complex and resource-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of selecting superior inbred linesVSAvoidcomplexity of breeding program
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the taking out principle by extracting and focusing on specific key traits (yield, uniformity, stability, disease resistance) in the development of inbred line LK4. Rather than evaluating all possible traits, the breeding program concentrates on these critical parameters, simplifying the selection process while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by developing inbred line LK4 with broad adaptability to multiple environmental conditions and regions. The line serves multiple functions across different locations and cropping systems, reducing the need for location-specific breeding programs and simplifying overall breeding complexity.

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

3Measurement precision

If multiple years of replicated evaluations are performed to accurately assess inbred line performance, then selection precision is improved, but productivity of the breeding program decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of inbred line performance evaluationVSAvoidnumber of new cultivars produced per unit time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by conducting preliminary evaluations of inbred line LK4 to establish its superior performance characteristics before wide deployment. This preliminary validation ensures measurement precision while allowing rapid subsequent adoption, increasing overall breeding productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by optimizing the evaluation parameters and selection criteria to efficiently identify superior inbred lines. By focusing measurements on key performance indicators (yield, uniformity, stability), the program achieves high measurement precision with reduced evaluation time, thereby increasing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10420300B2Inbred corn line LK4
Publication Date: 2019.09.24 LIMAGRAIN EURO SA

AI summary

Inbred corn line, designated LK4, are disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line LK4, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line LK4 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing inbred corn line LK4 with itself or another corn line. The invention also relates to products produced from the seeds, plants, or parts thereof, of inbred corn line LK4 and/or of the hybrids produced using the inbred as a parent. 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 inbred corn line LK4.