Maize Inbred PH47CK Backcross Breeding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new maize varieties and hybrids is a time-consuming process, 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 PH47CK, which involves crossing with other maize plants to introduce desirable traits through backcross conversion, genetic manipulation, and transformation, incorporating cytoplasmic or nuclear factors for male sterility and other beneficial characteristics like herbicide tolerance and insect resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional maize breeding methods are used to combine desirable traits, then stable high-yielding varieties are achieved, but the process takes six to twelve years

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses preliminary action by pre-establishing a recurrent parent inbred line with a specific genetic background that has been optimized for stability and yield. This recurrent parent is then used in backcrossing programs where desirable traits are introgressed in advance through multiple backcross generations (BC1, BC2, BC3), allowing the breeding process to start from a pre-prepared genetic foundation rather than beginning scratch each time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs an intermediary approach by using a backcross breeding system where the recurrent parent acts as a mediator to transfer desirable traits from donor parents while maintaining the genetic stability of the base variety. The backcross generations serve as intermediate steps that gradually introgress target traits while recovering the recurrent parent's stable genetic background, thus bridging the gap between trait introduction and variety stabilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single variety, then agronomic performance is improved, but the complexity of the breeding program increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagronomic performanceVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the breeding program into distinct modular components: (1) development of a recurrent parent with optimized baseline traits, (2) identification and selection of donor parents with specific desirable traits, (3) backcrossing operations to introgress individual traits, and (4) selection phases to combine multiple traits. This segmentation allows each trait to be addressed in a systematic sequence rather than attempting to combine all traits simultaneously, reducing program complexity while achieving multi-trait varieties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If backcross conversion and genetic manipulation are used to introduce traits, then trait introduction time is reduced, but the genetic modification process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait introduction speedVSAvoidgenetic manipulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical breeding methods (repeated crossing and selection over many generations) with accelerated backcross conversion techniques that use molecular markers and selective breeding to rapidly fix desirable traits. This substitution reduces the time required for trait introduction from multiple years to fewer generations by using marker-assisted selection to track and fix target alleles more efficiently than conventional phenotypic selection alone

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

Data Source

PatentUS10660290B1Maize inbred PH47CK
Publication Date: 2020.05.26 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH47CK and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH47CK with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH47CK 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 PH47CK or a locus conversion of PH47CK with another maize variety.