Hybrid Corn CH978587 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 efficiency of hybrid seed production.

Innovation Solution

The development of the hybrid corn variety CH978587, which incorporates genetic modifications and cytoplasmic male sterility to prevent self-pollination, along with specific traits like herbicide resistance and disease resistance, achieved through genetic transformation and backcrossing techniques, allowing for controlled cross-pollination and stable hybrid seed production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If physical emasculation is used to prevent self-pollination, then hybrid seed production is achieved, but labor intensity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of self-pollinationVSAvoidbreeding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical emasculation with a biological system - cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS). The CMS trait genetically prevents pollen formation in the female parent, eliminating the need for manual or mechanical removal of male organs. This biological substitution maintains reliable prevention of self-pollination while dramatically reducing labor intensity and production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If cytoplasmic male sterility is introduced to prevent self-pollination, then labor intensity is reduced, but genetic stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreeding efficiencyVSAvoidgenetic stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a restorer gene as an intermediary element that controls the expression of cytoplasmic male sterility. The restorer gene, when introduced into the hybrid, can restore male fertility if needed, providing a controlled mechanism to manage the CMS trait. This intermediary allows the system to maintain genetic stability by offering a way to revert or modify the sterility condition while still benefiting from CMS during hybrid seed production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single hybrid variety, then agronomic quality is improved, but breeding complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagronomic qualityVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the breeding program into distinct modular components: developing inbred lines with specific traits, introducing CMS into designated lines, and systematically crossing predetermined combinations. This modular approach allows different desirable traits to be incorporated into different parental lines, which are then crossed to produce hybrids with combined advantages, while maintaining organized control over the breeding complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10925226B2Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH978587
Publication Date: 2021.02.23 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH978587. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH978587, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH978587 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 CH978587.