Hybrid Maize Trait Introgression for Yield and Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hybrid maize development methods struggle to combine desirable traits such as disease resistance, heat and drought tolerance, and improved yield while maintaining uniformity and stability, which are crucial for commercial crop production.

Innovation Solution

A novel maize hybrid variety X08P364 is developed through careful breeding and selection, incorporating genetic loci for traits like male sterility, herbicide tolerance, and disease resistance, achieved via backcrossing and transformation, with cytoplasmically-inherited traits and regenerable tissue cultures to ensure uniformity and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional plant breeding methods are used to combine multiple desirable traits, then the hybrid may achieve disease resistance and improved yield, but uniformity and stability of plant characteristics are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease resistance and yield improvementVSAvoiduniformity of plant characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the breeding process into distinct stages: developing pure inbred lines with specific traits, then crossing them to create hybrids. This segmentation allows each parent line to be optimized for specific traits (disease resistance, yield) while maintaining genetic uniformity within each line, which then translates to uniformity in the hybrid offspring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by extensively developing and stabilizing the parent inbred lines before crossing them. Multiple generations of inbreeding and selection are performed beforehand to ensure each parent line is genetically uniform and stable. This preliminary stabilization of parent lines ensures that their offspring (the hybrids) will exhibit consistent uniformity across generations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple desirable traits are combined in a single hybrid, then agronomic quality and yield improve, but the complexity of breeding and maintaining uniformity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield and agronomic qualityVSAvoidbreeding process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple desirable traits into single parent inbred lines through systematic breeding. Each parent line is developed to carry specific combinations of traits (e.g., disease resistance, stress tolerance). When crossed, these parent lines combine their traits in the hybrid, achieving high productivity while the breeding complexity is managed by organizing trait consolidation into discrete parent line development programs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates universal parent inbred lines that can serve multiple functions: they provide disease resistance, yield potential, and uniformity to various hybrid combinations. Once a stable inbred line is developed with desirable traits, it can be used as a parent in multiple different hybrid crosses, reducing overall breeding complexity and enabling consistent performance across different hybrid varieties.

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

3Stability of the object's composition

If cytoplasmic male sterility is introduced to prevent self-pollination, then hybrid uniformity is improved, but the complexity of maintaining fertility systems increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehybrid uniformityVSAvoidfertility system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces cytoplasmic male sterility as an intermediary mechanism to control pollination. The sterile cytoplasm acts as a mediator that prevents self-pollination and ensures cross-pollination between different parent lines, thereby guaranteeing hybrid uniformity. This biological intermediary simplifies the maintenance of hybrid purity compared to manual detasseling or other mechanical methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260013459A1Maize hybrid x08p364
Publication Date: 2026.01.15 PIONEER HI BREED INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A novel maize variety designated X08P364 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X08P364 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08P364 through backcrossing or genetic transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are described. Maize variety X08P364, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08P364 are provided. Methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08P364 and methods of using maize variety X08P364 are disclosed.