Hybrid Seed Production Using 3-Phyletic Crosses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hybrid seed production methods are inefficient in introducing traits of interest, particularly herbicide tolerance, and maintaining seed purity, due to labor-intensive processes and limited versatility in combining traits, especially in commercial-scale production.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a three-phyletic cross system where the herbicide tolerance gene is introduced in the female line during basic seed production, allowing for hemizygous or homozygous expression in hybrid seeds, using male-sterile, maintainer, and restorer lines, enabling efficient purification of hybrid seeds through herbicide application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional hybrid seed production methods are used, then seed production is maintained, but the introduction of traits of interest is inefficient and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by using the herbicide-tolerant trait itself to identify and purify hybrid seeds. The herbicide is applied to the field, and only the herbicide-tolerant hybrid seeds survive and germinate, automatically purifying the seed population without requiring manual inspection or removal of unwanted plants. This eliminates the labor-intensive manual rogueing process while maintaining seed production efficiency.
2Reliability
If manual rogueing is used to maintain seed purity, then genetic integrity is maintained, but labor and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual rogueing with a chemical system. Instead of manually identifying and removing unwanted plants through visual inspection and physical removal, the invention uses herbicide application to selectively eliminate unwanted plants. The herbicide acts as a chemical agent that automatically purifies the seed population based on genetic differences in herbicide tolerance, reducing both labor and costs while maintaining seed purity.
3Reliability
If herbicide application is used for purification, then seed purity increases, but herbicide resistance management becomes important
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the herbicide tolerance trait specific to the hybrid seeds being produced. The female parent line is made herbicide-tolerant through crossing with a maintainer line that carries the tolerance gene, while the restorer line does not have this trait. This creates a local differentiation where only the desired hybrid seeds exhibit herbicide tolerance, allowing selective purification without affecting other crops or plants in the environment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the introduction of traits, increases seed purity, and enhances production efficiency by allowing herbicide-based purification, reducing labor and costs associated with manual rogueing and maintaining genetic integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the herbicide tolerance gene is introduced in the female line during basic seed production, allowing for hemizygous or homozygous expression in hybrid seeds, using male-sterile, maintainer, and restorer lines, enabling efficient purification of hybrid seeds through herbicide application
Data Source
AI summary
Methods are provided for hybrid seed production using 3-phyletic crosses between female, maintainer and male, particularly restorer lines, wherein the trait is introduced in the female line only at the stage of basic seed production via crossing of the female line with a maintainer line containing the gene or genes encoding the trait in homozygous state.