Maize Inbred Line IXA5516 Regional Adaptability Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current corn breeding methods face challenges in producing high-yielding, agronomically sound plants that are uniformly adapted across the U.S. Corn Belt, as regional growing conditions and specific issues like Gray Leaf Spot infection, cool temperatures, and soil pH levels require region-specific traits, making it difficult to develop hybrids that are broadly adaptable.

Innovation Solution

The development of the maize variety IXA5516, which includes a process for producing hybrid seeds by crossing IXA5516 with other maize plants to introduce desirable traits such as increased water stress resistance, waxy starch, and disease resistance, using techniques like backcrossing and marker-assisted selection to ensure the resulting plants have the desired characteristics and adaptability across different regions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If traditional breeding methods are used to develop maize hybrids, then uniformity and reproducibility are achieved, but adaptability to specific regional conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveuniformityVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the Corn Belt into multiple regions (Northern, Western, Eastern, Southern) with distinct environmental characteristics. Each region receives tailored hybrid maize developments that address specific regional challenges such as Gray Leaf Spot in the East, cool temperatures in the North, and soil pH issues in the West, while maintaining overall program uniformity through systematic breeding approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by developing region-specific hybrid maize varieties with traits optimized for particular environmental conditions. Each regional hybrid incorporates specific disease resistances, stress tolerances, and agronomic characteristics suited to its target region's unique challenges, rather than applying a single uniform variety across all areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If inbred lines are used for hybrid production, then vigor and seed yield are improved, but difficulty in producing inbred seed increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseed yieldVSAvoidease of production
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs self-service through the use of male-sterile inbred lines that automatically prevent self-pollination, eliminating the need for manual detasseling operations. The male-sterile trait serves the function of emasculation automatically, reducing labor requirements and simplifying hybrid seed production while maintaining high seed yields from the vigorous hybrid plants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If regional-specific breeding is pursued, then adaptability to local conditions improves, but breeding program complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregional adaptabilityVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the breeding program into distinct regional segments, each with its own set of parental inbreds and breeding objectives. This segmentation allows each regional program to be managed independently with tailored strategies, reducing the overall complexity by breaking down the large-scale problem into smaller, more manageable units rather than attempting to manage all regions as a single complex program.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11102946B2Variety corn line IXA5516
Publication Date: 2021.08.31 SYNGENTA CROP PROTECITON AG

AI summary

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated IXA5516, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line IXA5516 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line IXA5516, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line IXA5516, and plants produced according to these methods.