Maize Inbred PH41FN Breeding via CMS and Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new maize varieties is a time-consuming process that takes six to twelve years, and there is a continuous need for stable, high-yielding maize varieties with improved traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and better agronomic characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A novel maize variety, PH41FN, is developed through careful breeding and selection, incorporating traits like male sterility, disease resistance, and improved agronomic characteristics, using techniques such as backcross conversion, genetic manipulation, and transformation, allowing for the creation of hybrid maize seeds and plants with specific desirable traits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional breeding methods are used to develop new maize varieties, then stable and high-yielding varieties with improved traits can be obtained, but the development process takes six to twelve years which is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of maize varietyVSAvoidbreeding development time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by using male sterility systems and pre-established breeding protocols to prepare the genetic material in advance. This allows breeders to skip time-consuming manual emasculation steps and directly perform controlled crosses, significantly reducing the overall breeding timeline while maintaining variety stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary elements such as cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) systems and nuclear restorer genes as mediators in the breeding process. These intermediaries facilitate controlled pollination and hybrid seed production without requiring time-consuming manual intervention, thus accelerating variety development while ensuring genetic stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single maize variety, then disease resistance, yield, and agronomic characteristics are improved, but the breeding process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of desirable traitsVSAvoidbreeding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex breeding process into distinct modules: developing inbred lines with specific traits, establishing male sterility systems, and performing controlled crosses. This modular approach allows independent development and optimization of each trait component before combining them, reducing overall process complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs universal breeding systems such as CMS that can be applied across multiple varieties and trait combinations. Once a male sterile line is developed, it can serve as a female parent for introducing multiple different traits through backcrossing with various donor lines, eliminating the need to develop separate breeding protocols for each trait combination

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

Data Source

PatentUS10863697B1Maize inbred PH41FN
Publication Date: 2020.12.15 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH41FN and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH41FN with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH41FN through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH41FN or a locus conversion of PH41FN with another maize variety.