Hybrid Corn Breeding with Controlled Pollination for Uniform Seed

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing corn breeding techniques struggle to develop hybrids with uniformity and desirable traits such as increased yield, resistance to pests and diseases, and improved agronomic qualities, while maintaining genetic stability and efficiency in hybrid seed production.

Innovation Solution

The development of the hybrid corn variety CH010556, which incorporates cytoplasmic or nuclear factors for male sterility, genetic modifications for traits like herbicide resistance and disease resistance, and a method for controlled cross-pollination using emasculation and bagging techniques to produce uniform hybrid seeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If traditional breeding methods are used to develop corn hybrids, then genetic diversity is maintained, but uniformity in germination times, stand establishment, growth rate, and maturity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity in germination times, stand establishment, growth rate, and maturityVSAvoidyield
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding process is segmented into distinct stages: developing homozygous inbred parental lines through multiple generations of self-pollination, then crossing these standardized parents to produce uniform F1 hybrid progeny. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, ensuring both uniformity in the final product and high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes controlled changes in genetic parameters through systematic self-pollination over multiple generations to achieve homozygosity in parental lines. This parameter change (from heterozygous to homozygous state) enables the production of uniform hybrid progeny with consistent agronomic traits while maintaining high yield potential.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If self-pollination is used to develop homozygous inbred plants, then genetic stability is achieved, but time to crop maturity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic stabilityVSAvoidtime to crop maturity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Homozygous inbred parental lines are developed in advance through multiple generations of self-pollination and selection before the hybridization stage. This preliminary action ensures genetic stability is established beforehand, allowing the actual hybrid seed production to proceed quickly without compromising uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Once superior homozygous inbred lines are developed, they serve as reusable parental copies that can be crossed repeatedly to produce hybrid seed. This copying approach allows the time-consuming homozygization process to be performed once, while subsequent hybrid seed production becomes more efficient and faster.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If cross-pollination is used to produce hybrid plants, then yield and vigor are improved, but control over pollination and prevention of self-pollination becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveyieldVSAvoidcontrol over pollination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the male reproductive organs (tassels) from selected female parent plants to prevent self-pollination. This extraction of the male function from specific plants ensures that only controlled cross-pollination from designated male parents occurs, maintaining both high yield and operational control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Physical barriers such as bags or covers are used as intermediaries to control pollination. These intermediaries isolate female flowers until the appropriate moment, ensuring that only desired pollen from selected male parents can fertilize the ovules, thereby maintaining both yield potential and pollination control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If extensive breeding programs are implemented to develop superior inbred parental plants, then desirable traits are achieved, but complexity of the breeding process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to pests and diseasesVSAvoidcomplexity of breeding process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program is divided into separate functional components: developing disease-resistant inbred lines through systematic selection, maintaining these lines through controlled self-pollination, and producing hybrid seed through standardized crossing procedures. This segmentation makes the complex process more manageable and reliable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Once superior inbred parental lines with desirable traits are developed, they serve multiple functions: they can be crossed with each other to produce hybrid seed, they can be maintained through self-pollination, and they can be used repeatedly as parents. This multi-functionality reduces the need for continuous complex breeding operations while maintaining reliability.

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

Data Source

PatentUS12593788B2Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH010556
Publication Date: 2026.04.07 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

According to the disclosure, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH010556. The disclosure thus relates to the plants, seeds, and tissue cultures of the variety CH010556, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH010556 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The disclosure further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH010556.