Maize Inbred PH48AH Breeding via Molecular Markers

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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 breeders aim to create stable, high-yielding varieties with desirable traits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved agronomic characteristics.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the novel maize variety PH48AH, which can be bred using backcross conversion, genetic manipulation, and transformation techniques to incorporate traits like male sterility, herbicide tolerance, and disease resistance, along with specific processes for crossing and seed production to ensure genetic stability and uniformity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional maize variety development processes are used, then stable and agronomically sound varieties are achieved, but the process takes six to twelve years which is time-consuming

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a comprehensive set of molecular markers and genetic maps for the PH48AH inbred line before breeding operations. This preparatory genetic characterization enables rapid variety development by eliminating the need for time-consuming phenotypic screening in later generations, as breeders can directly select for desired traits using the pre-developed molecular marker system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/phenotypic selection methods with molecular marker-based selection. Instead of visually inspecting and manually selecting plants based on physical traits over multiple generations, the invention uses DNA-level molecular markers to identify and select desired genetic characteristics, dramatically accelerating the breeding process while maintaining variety stability

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

2Productivity

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

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by developing a comprehensive molecular marker system that can simultaneously detect and select for multiple different traits (disease resistance, yield characteristics, agronomic qualities) within a single breeding program. This multi-functional marker system allows breeders to combine multiple desirable traits in one variety through a standardized selection process rather than requiring separate breeding programs for each trait

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses molecular markers as intermediary tools that mediate between multiple desirable traits and the final variety selection. These markers serve as detectable indicators that allow breeders to track and combine multiple genetic characteristics simultaneously, simplifying the complexity of combining multiple traits by providing a unified selection mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11672225B1Maize inbred PH48AH
Publication Date: 2023.06.13 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH48AH and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH48AH with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH48AH 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 PH48AH or a locus conversion of PH48AH with another maize variety.