Maize Inbred PH4D4R Breeding via Preliminary Action

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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.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the novel maize variety PH4D4R, which involves crossing and genetic manipulation to incorporate traits like male sterility, disease resistance, and improved agronomic characteristics, using backcross conversion and transformation techniques, and the production of hybrid seeds through controlled pollination processes.

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 stabilityVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-selecting and characterizing inbred line PH4D4R with specific desirable traits (disease resistance, yield potential, agronomic characteristics) before hybrid development. This preliminary characterization and selection of parent lines with complementary traits accelerates the breeding process by reducing the need for extensive multi-year field testing and selection cycles, while ensuring variety stability through controlled crossing of well-characterized parents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional breeding methods are used to combine multiple desirable traits in a single variety, then the varieties achieve maximal yield over different conditions, but the process is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield stability across environmentsVSAvoidbreeding process time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by developing inbred line PH4D4R with multiple desirable traits including disease resistance, drought tolerance, and high yield potential that can be universally applied across different environmental conditions. This multi-functional inbred line serves as a versatile parent that can be crossed with various other lines to produce hybrids with stable yield performance across diverse environments, reducing the time needed to develop environment-specific varieties

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

3Reliability

If extensive field testing and selection are conducted to ensure variety stability, then the varieties achieve high yield and agronomic soundness, but the development process takes six to twelve years

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagronomic soundnessVSAvoidbreeding program output
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by implementing systematic evaluation and selection processes during hybrid development that provide continuous information on performance across multiple traits and environments. This feedback mechanism allows for early identification of superior hybrids with stable yield and agronomic soundness, reducing the need for extensive multi-year field testing while ensuring reliability through controlled selection based on measured performance data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11707035B1Maize inbred PH4D4R
Publication Date: 2023.07.25 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH4D4R and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH4D4R with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH4D4R 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 PH4D4R or a locus conversion of PH4D4R with another maize variety.