Maize Inbred PH4DBA Breeding for Stable Hybrid Yield

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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

A novel maize variety, PH4DBA, is developed through careful breeding and selection, incorporating traits like male sterility, disease resistance, and drought tolerance, achieved through backcross conversion, genetic manipulation, and transformation, allowing for the creation of stable, high-yielding hybrids with improved agronomic characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional breeding methods are used to combine desirable traits, then stable and agronomically sound varieties are achieved, but the development process takes six to twelve years

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing inbred lines with specific desirable traits (such as PH4DBA with male sterility, disease resistance, and drought tolerance) before the actual hybrid development process. This preparatory work of creating and characterizing inbred lines in advance allows for more efficient hybrid development and reduces the overall breeding timeline while maintaining variety stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

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

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex breeding process into distinct stages: developing individual inbred lines with specific traits (such as PH4DBA with male sterility and disease resistance), characterizing these lines separately, and then combining them through controlled crosses. This segmentation of the breeding process into manageable components reduces overall complexity while achieving multiple desirable traits in the final hybrid variety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating inbred lines with specific localized traits (such as PH4DBA with particular disease resistance genes or male sterility characteristics) and then combining these specialized lines to achieve comprehensive trait expression in the hybrid. Each inbred line contributes specific local qualities that collectively enhance the overall hybrid performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If inbred lines with specific traits are developed, then hybrid vigor and yield are maximized, but the time required for inbreeding and stabilization increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehybrid yieldVSAvoidinbreeding time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing traditional mechanical inbreeding methods (repeated self-pollination over multiple generations) with molecular marker-assisted selection and genetic characterization techniques. This substitution of mechanical breeding processes with molecular tools accelerates the inbreeding and stabilization process while maintaining the genetic purity and trait expression necessary for maximizing hybrid vigor and yield.

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

Data Source

PatentUS11641828B1Maize inbred PH4DBA
Publication Date: 2023.05.09 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated PH4DBA and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH4DBA with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH4DBA 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 PH4DBA or a locus conversion of PH4DBA with another maize variety.