Maize Inbred PH42AN Breeding via Segmentation and Preliminary Action

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new maize varieties and hybrids is a time-consuming process, typically taking six to twelve years, and existing technologies face challenges in combining desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and high yield in a stable and agronomically sound manner.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the novel maize variety PH42AN, which involves crossing with other maize plants to introduce traits like male sterility, disease resistance, and improved agronomic characteristics through backcross conversion, genetic manipulation, and transformation, along with specific breeding processes to produce hybrid seeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional maize breeding processes are used to combine desirable traits, then the resulting varieties have stable and agronomically sound characteristics, but the development process takes six to twelve years which is time-consuming

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by pre-establishing inbred lines with specific desirable traits (disease resistance, drought tolerance, yield potential) before combining them. The inbred lines are developed and characterized in advance, allowing for more efficient hybrid development and reducing overall breeding time while maintaining stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The breeding process is segmented into distinct phases: developing individual inbred lines with specific traits, evaluating them separately, and then combining them in hybrid crosses. This segmentation allows parallel development of multiple trait combinations, accelerating the overall breeding process while ensuring each component meets stability requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single variety, then the variety has improved agronomic characteristics and yield, but the complexity of the breeding process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveyieldVSAvoidbreeding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates inbred lines that serve multiple functions: they can be used individually for specific trait needs, combined in various hybrid configurations, and deployed across different environmental conditions. This multi-functionality reduces breeding complexity by using a core set of inbred lines for multiple breeding objectives.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent systematically varies breeding parameters including crossing configurations (single-cross, three-way, double-cross hybrids), selection criteria, and evaluation conditions to optimize the combination of multiple traits. By changing and testing different parameter combinations, the process efficiently identifies the most effective trait combinations for high yield and agronomic performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10165748B1Maize inbred PH42AN
Publication Date: 2019.01.01 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH42AN and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH42AN with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH42AN 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 PH42AN or a locus conversion of PH42AN with another maize variety.