Maize Inbred FX6815 Regional Adaptation Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current corn breeding methods face challenges in producing high-yielding, agronomically sound plants that are uniformly adapted across the U.S. Corn Belt, as regional growing conditions and specific diseases like Gray Leaf Spot, Corn Lethal Necrosis, and soil pH issues require region-specific traits, and the introduction of desirable traits into inbred lines is complex due to multi-genic inheritance and additive gene action.

Innovation Solution

The development of the maize inbred plant FX6815, which includes a mutant or transgenic gene conferring traits such as herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance, along with a method for introducing desired heritable traits through crossing, backcrossing, and selection to produce hybrid seeds with specific agronomic characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional breeding methods are used to develop maize varieties, then uniformity and reproducibility are achieved through inbred lines, but adaptability to different regional conditions (diseases, soil pH, climate) is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to regional conditionsVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program is segmented into multiple specialized sub-programs, each targeting specific regional conditions (e.g., Gray Leaf Spot resistance for the East, Corn Lethal Necrosis for the Midwest, pH tolerance for the West). This allows parallel development of region-specific traits without requiring a single complex universal breeding program.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of adaptability by developing inbred lines with specific regional adaptations (disease resistance, pH tolerance, heat/cold tolerance) that can be combined through crossing. This multi-dimensional approach allows hybrids to be tailored for specific environments while maintaining the reproducibility of inbred parent lines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple desirable traits are introduced into inbred lines to address regional challenges, then adaptability and yield are improved, but the breeding process complexity increases due to multi-genic inheritance and additive gene action

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease resistance and yield stabilityVSAvoidbreeding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Desirable traits (disease resistance, pH tolerance, stress tolerance) are introduced into inbred lines through preliminary breeding actions before hybrid development. This includes creating specialized inbred lines with pre-selected regional adaptations, which then serve as parent lines for hybrid production, simplifying the overall breeding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Different inbred lines are developed with specialized local qualities suited for specific regions (e.g., GLS resistance for eastern Corn Belt, CLN resistance for Midwest, pH tolerance for Western regions). This local quality approach allows each region to receive hybrids optimized for its specific conditions without requiring complex multi-trait engineering in a single universal line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If inbred lines are used to produce hybrid seed, then uniformity and reproducibility are achieved, but vigor and seed yield are decreased in the inbred plants themselves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of hybrid seedVSAvoidseed yield of inbred plants
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The inbred lines are maintained and propagated through self-service mechanisms where they serve as parent lines for hybrid production without requiring direct seed production for commercial planting. The inbreds' primary function is to provide uniform genetic material for hybrid seed production, leveraging their homozygosity and uniformity while accepting reduced direct seed yield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The inbred lines serve multiple functions: they are used as parent lines for hybrid production, maintained in seed production fields, and preserved in germplasm collections. This multi-functionality allows the system to benefit from the uniformity and reproducibility of inbreds while compensating for their lower direct seed yield through their role in generating vigorous hybrid offspring.

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

Data Source

PatentUS9040789B2Variety corn line FX6815
Publication Date: 2015.05.26 SYNGENTA CROP PROTECITON AG

AI summary

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated FX6815, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line FX6815 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line FX6815, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line FX6815, and plants produced according to these methods.