Maize Yield Alleles for Drought Tolerance via Marker Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to effectively introduce genes or genomic regions into plants that confer drought tolerance and increased yield, especially under water-stressed conditions, due to the complexity of identifying and integrating desirable genetic loci into commercial maize varieties.
Innovation Solution
Identification and introduction of specific yield alleles associated with drought tolerance and increased yield, using marker-assisted selection and genome editing technologies like CRISPR, to introduce nucleic acid sequences that enhance drought tolerance and yield in maize plants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional breeding techniques are used to introgress nucleic acid sequences, then desirable traits can be combined in a single plant, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification and characterization of specific chromosomal intervals and yield alleles associated with drought tolerance before breeding operations. By pre-mapping these genetic regions and developing associated molecular markers, the breeding process can directly select for these pre-identified traits rather than conducting lengthy screening programs, thus reducing the overall breeding cycle time while maintaining trait accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical phenotypic selection methods with molecular marker-based selection systems. Instead of manually evaluating plant performance in field trials over multiple generations, the invention uses DNA markers linked to target chromosomal intervals to identify and select plants with desired traits at the molecular level, dramatically accelerating the breeding process
2Measurement precision
If marker-assisted selection is used to identify desirable loci, then selection precision is improved, but the complexity of genetic analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex genome into specific chromosomal intervals of interest (e.g., bins 0.6-2.0 on chromosome 1, bins 3.5-5.0 on chromosome 9) and develops markers specifically for these regions. This segmentation approach allows researchers to focus genetic analysis on predetermined, biologically relevant regions rather than analyzing the entire genome, reducing analytical complexity while maintaining high precision for drought tolerance and yield traits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces molecular markers as intermediary elements that link observable phenotypes (drought tolerance, yield) to their underlying genetic causes. These markers serve as convenient proxies that are easier to detect and analyze than direct phenotypic measurements, simplifying the selection process while improving accuracy by enabling early-generation selection before environmental stresses occur
3Productivity
If genome editing technologies like CRISPR are used to introduce desirable genes, then breeding efficiency is improved, but the technical complexity of gene integration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification and validation of specific chromosomal intervals and yield alleles associated with drought tolerance before applying genome editing. By pre-characterizing target regions and understanding their genetic architecture, the invention enables precise editing at known locations rather than random mutagenesis, improving breeding efficiency while managing technical complexity through targeted approaches
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and isolates specific chromosomal intervals containing yield alleles from complex genomic backgrounds. By focusing editing and breeding efforts on these discrete, pre-identified genetic regions rather than attempting to modify the entire genome, the invention simplifies the integration process while maintaining high productivity through concentrated efforts on key trait-determining regions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying, selecting and/or producing a plant or germplasm having root increased drought tolerance and/or increased yield under non-drought conditions as compared to a control plant. A maize plant, part thereof and/or germplasm, including any progeny and/or seeds derived from a maize plant or germplasm identified, selected and/or produced by any of the methods of the present invention is also provided.