Crop Trait Improvement via Light-Induced Epigenetic Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for non-GM improved crops with inheritable traits to increase food production, as traditional breeding methods and GM technologies have limitations in enhancing yield potential and regulatory acceptance varies globally.
Innovation Solution
A method involving exposing commercial crop plants to a predetermined light treatment regime, specifically irradiating with artificial light of wavelengths between 380 nm to 750 nm, to identify and propagate the top-performing plants, which exhibit improved traits such as increased yield, biomass, and photosynthesis efficiency, without genetic modification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional breeding techniques and molecular techniques are used to exchange genetic material, then genetic variability is exploited, but the process is time-consuming and has limited yield improvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by exposing plants to specific light wavelengths (380-750 nm) and durations to induce epigenetic modifications. This changes the physical parameters of light exposure to achieve rapid trait improvement without traditional multi-year breeding processes, directly resolving the contradiction between yield improvement and time consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical breeding methods (cross-pollination, selection, and generation cycling) with a light-based epigenetic modification system. This substitution eliminates the need for time-consuming mechanical breeding operations while achieving similar or superior trait improvement through optical energy application
2Productivity
If GM technology is used to introduce non-natural traits, then yield potential is enhanced, but regulatory acceptance varies and restrictions are imposed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the beneficial trait enhancement capability from GM technology by using light-induced epigenetic modifications instead of genetic engineering. This removes the transgenic DNA component that causes regulatory restrictions while retaining the ability to improve yield potential, resolving the contradiction between productivity enhancement and regulatory adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a non-GM copy of the trait improvement effect achieved by GM technology. By using epigenetic modifications through light exposure, it replicates the yield enhancement outcomes of genetic engineering without introducing foreign DNA, thereby achieving regulatory acceptance while maintaining productivity benefits
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method results in commercial crop plants with significantly increased yield capacity, up to 800% or more, preserving the improved traits in subsequent generations without additional light treatment, applicable to various crop species including soybean, corn, and tomato, demonstrating a non-GM approach to enhance agricultural productivity.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating with artificial light the plants of step (a) with light of wavelength in the range of about 380 nm to about 750 nm
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a non-GM method for producing a crop exhibiting improved traits compared to a control population of plants of the same crop species comprising the steps of providing a population of plants, exposing said population of plants to a predetermined light treatment regime by irradiating with artificial light in a specific wavelength range, monitoring at least one trait of said plants of step (b), comparing to said control population and selecting at least the top about 0.5%, preferably 1-2% plants having the best improved trait of said plants of previous step, propagating at least one subsequent generation of said at least 0.5%, preferably 1-2%, best improved trait plants, optionally repeating previous steps for least one subsequent generation, thereby obtaining a crop exhibiting an improved trait, wherein the improved trait is inheritable for at least one more generation, preferably for two or more generations, more preferably for 3 to 5 generations, and even more preferably for 6 to 8 generations.