Glyphosate-Induced Male Sterility in Hybrid Corn Seed Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial hybrid seed production, particularly in corn, is labor-intensive and costly due to the need for mechanical or manual detasseling and the limitations of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) systems, which can result in reduced yield and purity, as well as increased costs associated with equipment, fuel, and fungicides.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing glyphosate to induce male sterility in a differential glyphosate-tolerant female parent corn plant, allowing for selective pollen removal and enhancing hybrid seed purity and yield, while reducing production costs through weed control and minimizing the use of other herbicides and fungicides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical or manual detasseling is used to prevent pollen shed in female parent corn plants, then hybrid seed purity is maintained, but labor intensity and production costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical detasseling operations with a chemical system. Glyphosate is applied to the female parent corn plants, which contains a gene conferring sensitivity to glyphosate in pollen-producing tissue. This chemical approach eliminates the need for labor-intensive mechanical or manual detasseling while maintaining hybrid seed purity, as the glyphosate selectively kills pollen-producing tissue without requiring physical removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the female parent corn plants to self-regulate pollen production through genetic modification. By introducing a gene that confers sensitivity to glyphosate in pollen-producing tissue, the plants automatically respond to glyphosate application by eliminating their own pollen-producing capability. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external mechanical intervention to prevent self-pollination.
2Productivity
If cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) systems are used to induce male sterility, then detasseling costs are reduced, but yield and trait purity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of male sterility induction from cytoplasmic inheritance (CMS) to chemical-induced sterility through glyphosate sensitivity. Instead of relying on CMS systems that have inherent limitations in yield and purity, the invention uses a gene-modified system where the female parent contains a specific gene conferring glyphosate sensitivity in pollen tissue. This allows precise control over sterility induction through chemical application, eliminating the yield and purity compromises associated with CMS systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the male sterility function from the cytoplasmic inheritance system (CMS) and relocates it to a nuclear gene that confers glyphosate sensitivity. This extraction allows the sterility mechanism to be controlled externally through glyphosate application rather than being fixed through cytoplasmic inheritance, enabling better control over both cost and purity outcomes while avoiding the limitations of CMS systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical detasseling equipment is deployed to remove tassels, then hybrid seed purity is maintained, but equipment costs and fuel consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the entire mechanical detasseling equipment system with a chemical application system. Instead of deploying specialized mechanical detasseling machinery that consumes fuel and requires maintenance, the invention uses glyphosate application equipment (standard agricultural spray equipment) to induce pollen sterility chemically. This substitution eliminates the need for specialized mechanical equipment while maintaining hybrid seed purity, significantly reducing equipment costs and fuel consumption.
4Reliability
If multiple herbicides and fungicides are applied during hybrid seed production, then crop protection is achieved, but production costs and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes glyphosate a multi-functional chemical that serves both as a herbicide for weed control and as an inducer of male sterility in the female parent corn plants. By applying glyphosate, the system simultaneously achieves weed control and pollen sterility induction, eliminating the need for separate chemical applications. This multi-functionality reduces the total quantity of chemicals used while maintaining crop protection and hybrid seed purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the function of weed control and male sterility induction into a single chemical application process. Instead of applying separate herbicides for weed control and separate treatments for inducing sterility, the invention combines these functions by using glyphosate for both purposes. This merging reduces chemical usage, simplifies the production process, and lowers production costs while maintaining crop protection and hybrid seed purity.
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 enhances transgene trait purity and genotype purity, increases hybrid seed yield, and reduces production costs by eliminating the need for mechanical detasseling and CMS germplasm, achieving higher crop yields with improved trait and genotype purity.
Implementation Method 1
a first corn plant comprises a first gene conferring sensitivity to glyphosate in pollen-producing tissue
Implementation Method 2
glyphosate treatment...rendered male-sterile by said glyphosate treatment
Implementation Method 3
a first corn plant comprises a first glyphosate tolerance transgene...said first parent corn plant is vegetatively and female reproductively tolerant to said glyphosate treatment
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method of herbicide treatment of selected female and male parents in a hybrid seed production system. The system results in enhanced trait purity and efficiency in the hybrid seed production system.