Hybrid Corn CH673944 Uniformity via Cytoplasmic Male Sterility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Corn breeding techniques face challenges in developing uniform hybrid varieties with desirable traits such as high yield, disease resistance, and uniform germination due to genetic non-uniformity and unpredictability in cross-pollination, requiring the development of stable inbred plants and specific breeding methods.

Innovation Solution

The development of the hybrid corn variety CH673944, which includes genetic loci for traits like male sterility, herbicide resistance, and disease resistance, using cytoplasmic-male sterility and genetic transformation techniques to introduce desired traits, and tissue culture methods for regenerating plants with consistent physiological and morphological characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional cross-pollination breeding methods are used, then genetic diversity is achieved, but genetic uniformity and predictability of hybrid performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic diversityVSAvoidgenetic uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding process is segmented into distinct phases: developing homozygous inbred parent lines through self-pollination, then crossing these standardized parents to produce uniform hybrid progeny. This segmentation allows genetic diversity to be captured in the parental lines while ensuring uniformity in the commercial hybrid generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) to change the pollination parameter from voluntary cross-pollination to controlled cross-pollination. By inducing male sterility through cytoplasmic factors, the system ensures that only controlled crosses occur between specific inbred lines, eliminating genetic contamination and ensuring uniform hybrid performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If self-pollination is used to develop homozygous inbred lines, then genetic uniformity of parent lines is improved, but breeding time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehomozygosity of inbred linesVSAvoidbreeding cycle duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inbred parent lines are developed and standardized in advance through multiple generations of self-pollination and selection before hybrid production begins. This preliminary development of homozygous parents ensures that when hybridization occurs, the crossing process is rapid and efficient, reducing overall breeding time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Cytoplasmic male sterility acts as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates the breeding process. The CMS trait enables easy identification and selection of male-sterile plants for hybrid production, streamlining the breeding workflow and reducing the time required for manual emasculation and cross-pollination management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If cytoplasmic male sterility is introduced to prevent self-pollination, then hybrid uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehybrid uniformityVSAvoidbreeding system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cytoplasmic male sterility system is self-regulating through genetic control. The CMS trait automatically prevents self-pollination in female parent lines without requiring external intervention or complex mechanical systems. The genetic mechanism itself provides the control function, simplifying the overall system despite the genetic complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8969684B2Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH673944
Publication Date: 2015.03.03 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH673944. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH673944, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH673944 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 CH673944.