Hybrid Corn CH011212 Male Sterility and Genetic Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current corn breeding techniques face challenges in developing hybrid varieties that combine desirable traits such as high yield, disease resistance, and uniformity, while maintaining genetic stability and avoiding self-pollination, which limits the introduction of new genetic modifications and traits.

Innovation Solution

The development of the hybrid corn variety CH011212, which incorporates a cytoplasmic or nuclear factor for male sterility, genetic modifications for herbicide resistance, and disease resistance, and a method for controlled cross-pollination using emasculation and self-incompatibility systems to produce seeds with specific traits like waxy starch and altered metabolism, utilizing genome editing techniques like CRISPR-Cas systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If self-pollination is allowed in corn breeding, then genetic diversity is maintained, but genetic uniformity and stability of hybrid traits deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic uniformityVSAvoidgenetic diversity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding population is divided into distinct inbred parental lines with different genetic backgrounds. Each parent line is homozygous at almost all gene loci, creating uniform subpopulations that when crossed produce hybrid offspring with desired uniformity while maintaining overall genetic diversity through the combination of different parental genomes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates self-pollination capability from the breeding system by developing male-sterile inbred lines. This prevents unwanted self-pollination that would compromise genetic uniformity, while still allowing controlled cross-pollination between different parental lines to maintain genetic diversity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If male sterility factors are introduced to prevent self-pollination, then genetic uniformity of hybrids is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic uniformityVSAvoidbreeding system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The male-sterile inbred lines possess an inherent self-service mechanism where their cytoplasmic or nuclear factors automatically prevent self-pollination. This eliminates the need for manual emasculation or other complex interventions, as the plants themselves enforce the prevention of self-pollination through their genetic constitution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The male sterility system serves multiple functions: it prevents self-pollination to maintain genetic uniformity, facilitates controlled cross-pollination between parental lines, and enables the production of uniform hybrid seeds. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each purpose.

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional breeding methods are used, then existing traits are maintained, but introduction of new genetic modifications and traits is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait introduction capabilityVSAvoidgenetic stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by developing stable, homozygous inbred parental lines with well-characterized genetic backgrounds before introducing new traits through cross-breeding or genetic modification. This preliminary establishment of genetic stability provides a reliable foundation for subsequently introducing new traits while maintaining overall genetic control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes in the form of cytoplasmic male sterility factors and nuclear restorer genes to control pollination behavior. By changing the genetic parameters of the parental lines, the system enables controlled introduction of new traits through cross-pollination while maintaining genetic stability in the resulting hybrids.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11974540B2Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH011212
Publication Date: 2024.05.07 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH011212. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH011212, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH011212 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH011212.