Hybrid Corn CH444919 Uniformity via Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current corn breeding methods face challenges in developing uniform hybrid plants with desirable traits such as high yield, disease resistance, and uniform germination, as they often result in non-uniform and unpredictable performance due to genetic differences between cross-pollinated plants.

Innovation Solution

The development of the hybrid corn variety CH444919, which incorporates a cytoplasmic or nuclear factor for male sterility and introduces desired traits like herbicide resistance, insect resistance, and disease resistance through genetic loci, allowing for controlled pollination and stable inheritance of desirable characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cross-pollination is used to develop corn hybrids, then genetic diversity and trait combination are improved, but uniformity and predictability of performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic diversityVSAvoiduniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding process is segmented into distinct phases: first developing uniform homozygous inbred lines through self-pollination, then crossing these standardized lines to produce hybrids. This segmentation allows genetic diversity to be introduced only at the crossing stage while maintaining uniformity within each parental line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the genetic uniformity parameter by using multiple generations of self-pollination (increasing homozygosity) in parental lines, then introducing heterozygosity through controlled crossing. This parameter manipulation ensures uniformity is maintained in the parental generation while achieving desired genetic diversity in the hybrid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If multiple generations of self-pollination are used to create homozygous inbred plants, then uniformity and stability are improved, but genetic diversity and adaptability deteriorate

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary self-pollination and selection to establish uniform homozygous inbred lines before the hybridization step. This preliminary action creates standardized parental material that ensures uniformity is locked in before introducing genetic diversity through crossing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges genetically distinct but uniformly standardized inbred lines through controlled crossing. By combining multiple uniform parental lines with different desirable traits, the method achieves both uniformity (within the hybrid population) and genetic diversity (across the parental contributions).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If natural pollination is used, then breeding simplicity is improved, but control over pollination and trait inheritance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreeding simplicityVSAvoidpollination control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the tassel (male flower) from selected female parent plants to prevent unwanted self-pollination or cross-pollination. This extraction provides precise control over which pollen fertilizes the ovules, ensuring only the desired cross occurs while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses bagging as an intermediary mechanism to control pollination. Bags physically isolate the female flowers during development, then controlled removal and application of specific pollen acts as a mediated transfer process, providing precision control while keeping the overall process manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8003866B2Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH444919
Publication Date: 2011.08.23 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH444919. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH444919, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH444919 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 CH444919.