Maize Inbred PH47K2 Breeding via Backcross Conversion

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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 creating stable, high-yielding maize varieties with desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved agronomic characteristics across various conditions and environments.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the novel maize variety PH47K2, which involves crossing with other maize plants to introduce desired traits through backcross conversion, genetic manipulation, and transformation, and the use of cytoplasmic or nuclear factors for male sterility to prevent self-pollination, allowing for the production of hybrid seeds with enhanced characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional maize breeding methods are used to develop new varieties with desirable traits, then the varieties achieve stability and high yield, but the development process takes six to twelve years

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevariety stabilityVSAvoidbreeding development time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-selecting and characterizing inbred line PH47K2 with specific desirable traits (disease resistance, drought tolerance, yield potential) before hybrid development. This preliminary characterization allows breeders to start hybrid crossing with a pre-validated parent line, reducing the time needed for variety stabilization while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes copying by creating hybrid varieties that replicate and combine the desirable traits of PH47K2 with other inbred lines. The hybrid seeds copy the beneficial genetic characteristics of the parent lines, allowing rapid propagation of stable, high-yielding varieties without requiring lengthy breeding cycles to establish new trait combinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single maize variety, then the variety achieves maximal yield across different conditions, but the breeding process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaximal yieldVSAvoidbreeding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining multiple desirable traits from different inbred lines into hybrid PH47K2 and its derivatives. The hybrid inherits disease resistance, drought tolerance, and yield potential from PH47K2 while incorporating additional traits from complementary parent lines, achieving maximal yield across different conditions through trait consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by developing PH47K2 as a versatile inbred line that serves multiple functions: it provides disease resistance, drought tolerance, and high yield potential. This multi-functional parent line can be used in various hybrid combinations and environmental conditions, reducing breeding complexity by having a single versatile genotype that addresses multiple productivity requirements.

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

3Stability of the object's composition

If inbred seed populations are maintained as essentially homogeneous to prevent hybrid contamination, then variety purity is preserved, but seed production requires careful isolation and management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseed population homogeneityVSAvoidseed production ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies taking out by extracting and isolating the inbred PH47K2 seed population from hybrid seed production environments. This physical separation prevents contamination between inbred and hybrid seeds, maintaining the essential homogeneity of the inbred population while allowing dedicated production fields for the inbred line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses spatial isolation as an intermediary mechanism to separate inbred seed production from hybrid seed production. By establishing physical barriers and isolation distances between inbred and hybrid fields, the system maintains inbred population homogeneity while facilitating easier seed production through defined production zones and reduced contamination risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10681888B1Maize inbred PH47K2
Publication Date: 2020.06.16 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH47K2 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH47K2 with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH47K2 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 PH47K2 or a locus conversion of PH47K2 with another maize variety.