Maize Inbred PH48ZZ Breeding via Male-Sterile Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new maize varieties and hybrids is a time-consuming process, requiring six to twelve years from the first cross to the delivery of finished seed, 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 PH48ZZ, which involves crossing with another maize plant 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 maize seeds and plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional maize breeding processes are used to combine desirable traits, then stable high-yielding varieties can be developed, but the process takes six to twelve years which is too time-consuming

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by using male-sterile lines and predetermined breeding schemes to prepare the genetic material and breeding structure in advance. This allows the actual crossing and selection processes to proceed more rapidly without compromising the stability of the final variety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses male-sterile lines as intermediaries to facilitate controlled crosses between different parental lines. This intermediary approach enables efficient combination of desirable traits while maintaining breeding program organization and reducing time delays associated with manual emasculation and pollination control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single variety, then the variety becomes more agronomically sound and high-yielding, but the breeding process becomes more complex and difficult to manage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagronomic soundnessVSAvoidbreeding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the breeding process into distinct components: male-sterile lines for controlled pollination, maintainer lines for propagation, and restorer lines for fertility recovery. This segmentation allows each trait combination to be developed through standardized, manageable steps rather than attempting to combine all traits simultaneously in a single complex cross.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by developing specific breeding lines with specialized functions (male-sterile, maintainer, restorer) rather than attempting to combine all desirable traits in a single line. This allows different regions of the breeding program to specialize in different tasks, improving overall efficiency and reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If conventional crossing methods are used to produce hybrid seed, then genetic diversity and yield potential are improved, but the manual processes increase labor requirements and reduce productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield potentialVSAvoidease of seed production
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs self-service principles through the use of male-sterile lines that automatically prevent self-pollination and require only natural cross-pollination to produce hybrid seed. This eliminates the need for manual emasculation and controlled pollination, allowing hybrid seed production to occur through simple proximity planting of male-sterile and restorer lines, dramatically reducing labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10709096B1Maize inbred PH48ZZ
Publication Date: 2020.07.14 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH48ZZ and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH48ZZ with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH48ZZ 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 PH48ZZ or a locus conversion of PH48ZZ with another maize variety.