Inbred Corn Line MM27 for Hybrid Yield and Drought Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The development of new corn inbred lines is a time-consuming and unpredictable process due to the complexity of combining desirable traits such as yield, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability, often requiring extensive resources and testing to identify genetically superior plants.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of the inbred corn line MM27, which can be used to produce hybrids with improved yield, drought tolerance, and disease resistance, through methods such as self-pollination, backcrossing, and genetic transformation to incorporate desired traits like male sterility, herbicide resistance, and modified starch content, allowing for the creation of stable and high-yielding corn hybrids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional breeding methods are used to develop new corn inbred lines, then genetically superior plants with desirable traits can be identified, but the process is time-consuming and requires extensive resources

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenetic superiorityVSAvoidbreeding cycle duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a diverse population of inbred lines through recurrent selection before the actual breeding program begins. This population is maintained and refined over multiple generations, so when a new breeding program starts, the foundation of genetically superior lines is already in place, reducing the time needed to develop new cultivars.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through continuous evaluation of inbred lines performance in replicated trials across multiple environments. Selection is based on mean values from replicated evaluations, allowing breeders to identify superior lines through systematic comparison and feedback loops that optimize genetic improvement efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If recurrent selection is used to improve quantitatively inherited traits, then desirable traits such as yield and disease resistance can be enhanced, but the process requires multiple generations and extensive testing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait improvementVSAvoidbreeding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the breeding program into distinct phases: (1) development of diverse inbred lines through recurrent selection, (2) evaluation of lines in replicated trials, (3) selection of superior lines, and (4) hybrid development. This segmentation allows each phase to be optimized independently, improving overall breeding efficiency while maintaining trait improvement reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal population of inbred lines that can serve multiple purposes: as parents for hybrid development, as sources for specific trait improvement, and as evaluation standards. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate breeding programs for different objectives, thereby improving productivity.

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

3Reliability

If backcross breeding is used to transfer favorable genes, then specific traits such as disease resistance can be introduced into desirable cultivars, but the process is complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrait transfer accuracyVSAvoidbreeding procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses diverse inbred lines as intermediary elements that bridge the gap between donor parents with favorable genes and recipient cultivars with desirable background. These inbred lines serve as intermediaries in the backcrossing process, simplifying the transfer of specific traits while maintaining overall breeding program manageability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If mechanical harvesting is used, then uniformity of plant characteristics becomes important, but achieving uniformity requires precise control of germination and stand establishment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharvesting efficiencyVSAvoidplant characteristic uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes parameters related to germination timing, seed planting uniformity, and stand establishment conditions to ensure consistent plant characteristics. By controlling these parameters, the breeding program achieves the uniformity required for efficient mechanical harvesting while maintaining genetic diversity and superior traits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8093472B2Inbred corn line MM27
Publication Date: 2012.01.10 LIMAGRAIN EURO SA

AI summary

An inbred corn line, designated MM27, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of inbred corn line MM27, to the plants and plant parts of inbred corn line MM27 and to methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the inbred line MM27 with itself or another corn line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from the inbred MM27.