Maize Hybrid X13M668 Trait Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional plant breeding methods struggle to consistently combine desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved yield in maize crops, while maintaining uniformity and stability necessary for mechanical harvesting.

Innovation Solution

The development of a novel maize hybrid variety, X13M668, achieved through crossing two inbred varieties and introducing specific genetic traits such as male sterility, herbicide tolerance, and disease resistance via locus conversion and transformation techniques, ensuring uniformity and stability while enhancing agronomic characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional plant breeding methods are used to combine desirable traits, then disease resistance and drought tolerance can be improved, but uniformity and stability required for mechanical harvesting deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease resistanceVSAvoiduniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the breeding process into distinct phases: developing inbred lines with specific traits, then crossing them to produce uniform hybrids. This segmentation allows disease resistance to be introduced through controlled crosses while maintaining uniformity in the F1 hybrid generation, resolving the contradiction between trait incorporation and uniformity maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by developing and stabilizing inbred parent lines before crossing them. The inbred lines are thoroughly characterized and stabilized for uniformity prior to hybridization, ensuring that the resulting F1 hybrids inherit both the desired disease resistance traits and the uniformity needed for mechanical harvesting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a hybrid, then agronomic quality and yield improve, but the complexity of maintaining uniformity across all traits increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveyieldVSAvoidtrait combination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple desirable traits from different inbred parent lines into a single F1 hybrid. By combining inbred lines that have been pre-selected for specific traits (disease resistance, drought tolerance, yield components), the patent achieves high productivity while managing complexity through systematic trait accumulation in the parental lines rather than attempting to manage all traits simultaneously in the hybrid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal hybrid variety that performs multiple functions: it provides disease resistance, drought tolerance, and high yield simultaneously. The F1 hybrid serves as a multi-functional solution that addresses multiple agronomic requirements in a single variety, reducing the complexity of managing separate varieties for different traits.

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

3Manufacturing precision

If inbred varieties are crossed to produce hybrids, then uniformity and stability are improved, but the time and resources required for breeding increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveuniformityVSAvoidbreeding cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by completing the inbreeding and stabilization process before the hybridization step. The inbred parent lines are developed and characterized in advance, with all necessary trait stabilization completed prior to crossing. This preliminary preparation reduces the overall breeding cycle time for hybrid development while maintaining the uniformity benefits of inbreeding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by maintaining and propagating stable inbred parent lines that can be repeatedly crossed to produce uniform hybrids. Once the inbred lines are developed, they serve as reusable genetic sources that can be copied and propagated indefinitely, reducing the time required for subsequent hybrid development while maintaining uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10420307B1Maize hybrid X13M668
Publication Date: 2019.09.24 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated X13M668 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X13M668 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13M668 through backcrossing or genetic transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are described. Maize variety X13M668, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13M668 are provided. Methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13M668 and methods of using maize variety X13M668 are disclosed.