Maize Inbred SLHS06 Breeding via Male Sterility and 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

A novel maize variety, SLHS06, is developed through careful breeding and selection, incorporating traits like male sterility, disease resistance, and drought tolerance via backcross conversion, genetic manipulation, and transformation, allowing for the creation of hybrid seeds with enhanced agronomic characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional breeding processes are used to develop new maize varieties, then desirable traits such as disease resistance and drought tolerance can be combined, but the process takes six to twelve years and is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of desired traitsVSAvoidbreeding development time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by using male sterility systems and predetermined breeding designs before the actual variety development begins. The inbred lines are pre-selected and pre-characterized for specific traits, and male sterility is pre-introduced to control pollination, thereby streamlining the subsequent breeding process and reducing overall development time while maintaining trait stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single variety through traditional breeding, then agronomic soundness and yield can be improved, but the complexity of the breeding program increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveagronomic performance across environmentsVSAvoidbreeding program complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the breeding program into distinct modular components: separate inbred line development for specific traits (disease resistance, drought tolerance), male sterility system development, and hybrid combination. This modular approach allows each component to be developed and optimized independently, then assembled into complete hybrid varieties, reducing overall program complexity while achieving multi-trait agronomic performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If self-pollination is allowed in maize breeding, then inbred line development is simplified, but unwanted traits can be inherited and uniformity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinbred line production easeVSAvoidgenetic uniformity of inbred lines
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces male sterility as an intermediary mechanism to control pollination. By rendering male plants sterile through cytoplasmic or nuclear factors, the system ensures that only controlled cross-pollination occurs between specific inbred lines. This intermediary control prevents unwanted self-pollination and maintains genetic uniformity, while still allowing efficient inbred line development through systematic breeding designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11589533B1Maize inbred SLHS06
Publication Date: 2023.02.28 AGRIGENETICS INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated SLHS06 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety SLHS06 with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into SLHS06 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 SLHS06 or a locus conversion of SLHS06 with another maize variety.