Hybrid Corn Breeding for Uniform and Stable Cross-Pollination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing corn breeding techniques struggle to develop hybrids with uniformity and desirable traits such as increased yield, disease resistance, and improved agronomic qualities while maintaining genetic stability and efficiency in cross-pollination processes.

Innovation Solution

The development of the hybrid corn variety CH010474, which incorporates cytoplasmic or nuclear factors for male sterility, genetic modifications for traits like herbicide resistance, and a method for controlled cross-pollination using emasculation and bagging techniques, along with genetic editing tools like CRISPR-Cas systems for precise trait introduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional cross-pollination methods are used in corn breeding, then genetic diversity can be achieved, but uniformity and genetic stability of the hybrid progeny deteriorate

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

Solution Approach 1:

The breeding program segments the population into distinct inbred lines through repeated self-pollination and selection, creating genetically uniform parental lines that when crossed produce uniform hybrid progeny with consistent desirable traits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by developing homozygous inbred parental lines through multiple generations of self-pollination and selection before performing the cross, ensuring that the parental lines have stable and uniform genetic compositions that will produce uniform hybrid offspring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Stability of the object's composition

If repeated self-pollination is used to develop homozygous inbred lines, then genetic uniformity of parental lines is improved, but time required for breeding deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic uniformityVSAvoidbreeding time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs self-service by utilizing the plant's natural self-pollination mechanism to achieve homozygosity in inbred lines, allowing the breeding process to proceed efficiently without requiring complex external intervention while maintaining genetic uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If natural wind pollination is relied upon, then cross-pollination efficiency can be maintained, but control over pollination precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecross-pollination efficiencyVSAvoidpollination control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary controlled pollination step where selected inbred parental lines are deliberately crossed under controlled conditions, acting as a mediator between the desire for natural efficiency and the need for precise genetic control in hybrid development

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12604832B2Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH010474
Publication Date: 2026.04.21 MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

According to the disclosure, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH010474. The disclosure thus relates to the plants, seeds, and tissue cultures of the variety CH010474, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH010474 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 CH010474.