Maize Inbred PH1K8N Breeding via Marker-Assisted Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current maize breeding techniques face challenges in combining desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and uniformity, which are essential for efficient crop production and mechanical harvesting.

Innovation Solution

Development of a novel maize variety, PH1K8N, with specific breeding processes and genetic modifications to enhance traits like abiotic stress tolerance, disease resistance, and uniformity, including backcross conversion and transformation methods to introduce desired traits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional plant breeding methods are used to combine desirable traits, then the breeding process can be maintained with conventional techniques, but the ability to effectively combine multiple desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and uniformity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to combine desirable traitsVSAvoidbreeding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from traditional breeding methods to modern biotechnological methods including molecular marker-assisted selection and genetic transformation. This changes the fundamental parameters of the breeding process, enabling precise combination of multiple desirable traits (disease resistance, drought tolerance, uniformity) that cannot be effectively achieved through conventional breeding alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional breeding methods are used, then conventional breeding processes can be maintained, but uniformity of plant characteristics such as germination, stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, plant height and ear height is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of plant characteristicsVSAvoidbreeding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/phenotypic selection methods with molecular marker-based selection systems. By using DNA markers linked to desirable traits, the breeding process achieves precise control over uniformity of plant characteristics (germination, stand establishment, growth rate, maturity, plant height, ear height) without relying on complex phenotypic observation and selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If advanced genetic techniques are integrated to improve trait combination and uniformity, then the ability to combine desirable traits and achieve uniformity is enhanced, but the breeding process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait combination capabilityVSAvoidbreeding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces molecular markers as intermediary tools that simplify the breeding process. These markers serve as proxies for desirable traits, allowing breeders to select for multiple traits simultaneously through marker-assisted selection rather than complex phenotypic evaluation, thus enhancing trait combination capability while managing process complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9374959B1Maize inbred PH1K8N
Publication Date: 2016.06.28 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH1K8N and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1K8N with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1K8N through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1K8N or a locus conversion of PH1K8N with another maize variety.