Hybrid Corn CH011218 Cytoplasmic Male Sterility Breeding

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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 CH011218, which incorporates cytoplasmic or nuclear factors for male sterility, genetic modifications conferring traits like herbicide resistance, and disease resistance, and the use of tissue culture techniques to regenerate plants with specific physiological and morphological characteristics, allowing for controlled cross-pollination and introduction of new traits through genetic transformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If self-pollination is prevented through male sterility mechanisms, then cross-pollination and hybrid variety development are improved, but genetic stability and breeding control become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-pollination capabilityVSAvoidgenetic stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) as an intermediary mechanism to control pollination. The sterile cytoplasm acts as a mediator that prevents self-pollination while allowing controlled cross-pollination through specific restorer genes in the male parent, thus resolving the contradiction between preventing self-pollination and maintaining genetic stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If genetic modifications are introduced to confer new traits, then adaptability and resistance are improved, but genetic stability and uniformity are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait diversityVSAvoidgenetic uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the genetic contribution into two distinct parts: the cytoplasm (inherited from the female parent) which provides male sterility and genetic stability, and the nuclear genes (inherited from both parents) which provide trait diversity including disease resistance and yield characteristics. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of genetic stability and trait diversity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If inbred plants are developed through self-pollination, then genetic uniformity is improved, but introduction of new traits and hybrid vigor are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic uniformityVSAvoidhybrid vigor
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first developing inbred lines with uniform cytoplasm through self-pollination to establish genetic stability, then using cytoplasmic male sterility in these inbreds to enable controlled hybridization that produces F1 hybrids with heterosis. The preliminary inbreeding creates a stable foundation that facilitates subsequent hybrid vigor expression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11974543B2Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH011218
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 CH011218. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH011218, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH011218 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 CH011218.